Young Kiwis blaze out of the shadows

New Zealand riders Kirstie James and Zac Williams stepped out of the shadows of their more illustrious teammates with telling performances on the second night of the UCI Oceania track cycling championships in Cambridge.

James made it three Oceania titles in two days with victory in the women’s 3000m individual pursuit last night to back up wins in the 4000m team pursuit and the points race on the opening day.

She put the pressure on in the second half of the race to beat off top qualifier and teammate Bryony Botha in the final of the individual pursuit. James clocked 3:33.835, which was 4sec faster than her morning qualifying ride, with Botha 1sec back, recording her second personal best of the day.

“I have always wanted to win a pursuit title. It is an event that shows your true form and true grit,” James said. “It is the only race that can hurt you that much, so to back up after winning the Points race last night, I was really happy with that.”

Williams set the morning session alight in qualifying when he clocked 1:00.447 in the men’s 1km time trial; the fastest time by a New Zealander at sea level, beating the previous mark held by world championship medallist Matt Archibald. He also broke the New Zealand all-comers record held by London Olympic medallist Simon van Velthooven.

It was a New Zealand trifecta in the final with Williams forced to fight hard to clock a winning time of 1:00.825 to beat Bradly Knipe (1:01.429) and Nick Kergozou (1:01.517).

“I am absolutely stoked. The record this morning was a bit unexpected but to do that time and beating the guys I know that have gone sub 1:01 in New Zealand history is pretty cool,” said Williams. “It is hard doing two rides with the new format. You really have to dig deep in that second ride and nine times out of 10 it is never going to be as fast as the first one.

“We had a few execution issues in that ride but I am still over the moon with the title.”

Australian world champion Jordan Kerby produced easily won the men’s 4000m individual pursuit in 4:13.529, just outside his world titlewinning title. He smashed the New Zealand all-comers record set by Jesse Sergent in 2012.