Fisher-Black powers to victory and NZ record
Nelson’s Finn Fisher-Black was in record-smashing mood at the recent age group track national championships at the Avantidrome in Cambridge.
Despite no preparation, FisherBlack went under the previous New Zealand record twice on his way to victory in the under-17 2000m individual pursuit, on a day where were 10 national records were broken.
The Tasman rider topped qualifiers with a world-class 2min 15.69sec effort, just ahead of Canterbury’s Laurence Pithe in 2min 17.97sec. While Fisher-Black took out the final in the slightly slower time of 2min 16.33sec, it was still under the previous record. Waikato Bay of Plenty’s Kiaan Watts was third in 2min 20.67sec.
His winning time was faster than the Australian national record and just 0.5sec off the British mark.
Fisher-Black also took silver in the 7.5km scratch race and bronze in both the match sprint and 10km points race.
The Nelson College student’s talents aren’t restricted to the track however. He’s determined to follow in world-ranked George Bennett’s slipstream and become a professional rider one day too.
Fisher-Black capped off a memorable 2016 road season on the bike by winning the under-17 Cycling New Zealand criterium championships in Auckland.
It was the third national title he secured for his age group last year, following his first placings in the time trial at the national club championships and at the cyclocross national championships.
He also finished second at the six-stage Junior Tour of Southland.
Meanwhile in Cambridge, Fisher-Black’s Tasman team-mate Kaio Lart took out silver medals in both the under-15 boys’ 500m time trial and 2km scratch race and a bronze in the 7.5km scratch race.
Niamh Fisher-Black was ninth in the under-19 omnium in a field that contained several junior world champions.