Fulton presses case for junior worlds
Shaane Fulton believes she’s done everything she can to put herself in the frame for UCI Track Cycling Junior World Championships selection.
Now her fate is in the hand of the New Zealand selectors.
The 16-year-old Waimea College student won three medals at the Track National Championships in Invercargill last week, claiming gold in the under-19 sprint event and finishing second in the keirin and 500m time trial.
With the world championships the big focus for Fulton in 2017, she’s hoping those results will be enough to get her on the plane to China come August.
She is expecting the squad to be revealed by the end of the month.
‘‘I’m hoping I would have done enough to go to junior worlds and hopefully that’s what my plans will be,’’ Fulton said.
‘‘There was definitely a lot of pressure on at nationals because your whole year depends on it. If you don’t perform then it’s going to be pretty hard to pick it up throughout the rest of the year. But the main thing is consistency and every other year I’ve medalled at nationals.’’
Looking back on her successful week down south, Fulton said the gold medal in the sprint was the highlight but not just because of its colour.
‘‘The sprint was my main focus and I really wanted to go well in that event because it’s the one I enjoy most. It’s what I’ve been working towards for ages and I’ve been training up in Cambridge for two weeks with my coach to prepare for nationals.’’
After winning silver and bronze medals at the Oceania championships in December, Fulton said she feels as if her career is beginning to take shape.
‘‘I remember when I was in under-15 and I was watching everyone go through on this same pathway that I’m on now. I’m just hoping I can keep going and keep advancing.’’