Grinding triumph for gold

KELLAND O’Brien has denied Joshua Harrison a second individual gold at Brisbane’s track nationals, claiming the cycling meet’s final event in a grinding 40km points race.

Harrison, who claimed silver in the event last year, was yesterday hoping to add to his scratch race triumph on Saturday night at Brisbane’s Anna Meares Velodrome.

But O’Brien, part of the world championship-winning team pursuit squad last year, was too good in finishing on 62 points, ahead of Harrison (45) and Stephen Hall (38).

Earlier, Tasmanian Amy Cure held off Georgia Baker to win the women’s 15km scratch race while Stephanie Morton won a frantic keirin yesterday. Morton outgunned Kaarle McCulloch for her third gold of the meet as Caitlin Ward crashed and slid off the velodrome on the second-last lap.

Matthew Glaetzer was too good in the men’s keirin, giving the South Australian his fourth gold of the titles.

Sarah Gigante made a statement with a great under-19 points race victory to open yesterday’s racing, going it alone for almost 30 laps to claim her third national title of the weekend. The 17-year-old pushed clear of the chasing pack and was not reeled in.

Matthew Glaetzer was named men’s champion of champions after his four-gold haul, while Cure and Morton shared women’s honours. AAP