Garbett celebrates birthday in style
There aren’t many better ways for an aspiring young sprinter to celebrate their 18th birthday than a fourth national title on the final day of the elite and under-19 track national championships in Invercargill.
Levin’s Thomas Garbett has been the standout male sprinter in the under-19 ranks at the SIT Velodrome, winning the 1000m time trial, sprint and keirin before anchoring a composite side to victory against Southland in the under-19 team sprint final.
‘‘It’s been awesome, to win four gold medals from four events - it’s unbelievable how good the week’s been. To win the team sprint with a composite team, coming in as the underdogs on my birthday, it’s been so good,’’ Garbett said.
‘‘The track hasn’t been roaring hot, but I’ve been happy with the how the (times) have been going.’’
Garbett was selected for the junior world track championships last year but could not attend because of personal reasons.
He’s determined to win selection again for the championships being held in Switzerland.
Meanwhile, Olivia Ray showed her versatility, the Aucklander winning the elite women’s scratch race over 10km on the final day, to go with her fast-twitch gold in the keirin and silver medals in the sprint and 500m time trial.
The Southland combination of Sophie-Leigh Bloxham and Nicole Marshall took out the under-19 women’s team sprint from a composite combination, breaking a championship record which had stood for eight years.
Waikato’s Tess Young and Jaymie King took out the elite women’s team sprint, while the Wellington combination of Lee Evans, Russell Pepperell and Maxwell Uivel won the elite men’s final over Canterbury.
Jessie Hodges backed up from a silver in the elite women’s scratch race earlier in the session to combine with Emily Shearman and take out the open women’s Madison.
Brad Evans continued a good week with a third national title, pairing up with Josh Scott to win the open men’s 25km Madison.