Australia claimed five gold from eight events on the second day of competition at the 2016 Oceania Track Championships in Invercargill, New Zealand.

Stephanie Morton and Tahlay Christie both claimed their second gold medals of the Championship with keirin success. Georgia Baker and Chloe Heffernan claimed the elite and under 19 women’s individual pursuit titles, while Ryan Schilt took out the under 19 men’s omnium.

Women’s Keirin

A powerful sprint by Stephanie Morton delivered her to the line to successfully defend her Oceania keirin title. World ChampionAnna Meares had to settle for bronze behind Morton and New Zealand’s Natasha Hansen.

“It was a great feeling to get the win,” said Morton. “When you have the reigning World Champion in your final you know it’s going to be tough racing.

“I had a plan and executed it well so cant ask for much more. The win was a bonus.

“It is great to see all the hard work we have been putting in over the winter is paying off.”

It was Morton’s second gold of the championship having claimed the team sprint title on Wednesday. “There are still lots of races to come with the World Cups just around the corner so starting off the season with some wins is great.

“It’s racing and experience under the legs which will only help me for the rest of this season. I’ll enjoy tonight’s keirin win then re set for the sprint.”

Kaarle McCulloch just missed out on the medals in fourth with Caitlin Ward fifth and Holly Takos sixth.

In the under 19 event, defending champion Tahlay Christie lead from the front and powered to gold, also her second title of the Championships. New Zealand’s Emma Cumming settled for silver and Georgia Quick bronze.

Individual Pursuit

Georgia Baker proved too strong for Macey Stewart in an all Tasmanian final in the women’s individual pursuit. Baker took the gold in 3mins 42.188secs to Stewart’s 3mins 49.467secs. Bronze went to Hannah Van Kampen of New Zealand in 3mins 48.406secs.

“I’m happy to have had the opportunity to get a pursuit under my belt in race conditions early in the season, said Baker. “You never know how you are going to go when you haven’t ridden an IP in a while but I got a lot of positives out of my ride and I am happy with the result.”

“I’m happy with my ride,” added silver medallist Stewart. “For me it was about going back to basics and learning to put out a consist and solid effort for a full 3k pursuit.”

Both Baker and Stewart had a quick turn around from silver medals in the team pursuit on Thursday. “I didn’t back up too bad! I haven’t felt great the last few days but luckily the advantage of a road background allows me to still put out an okay effort even when I’m not feeling great,” explained Stewart.

“It has been good to get back onto the track and get a feel for it again, after a full road season”

New South Wales’ Chloe Heffernan was unstoppable in the under 19 event claiming gold in 2mins 34.045secs, half a second faster than her time in qualifying.

In the ride for bronze Laura Jones stopped the clock in 2mins 36.644secs to make it two Australians on the podium, bettering her time in qualifying by two and a half seconds.

Dual junior world champion Rohan Wight went off to a fast start in the race for gold against New Zealand’s Hayden Roulston. After Wight opened an early lead Roulston fought back to take the lead at the half way mark. It was neck and neck in the closing laps with Roulston’s experience just managing to hold on for gold in 4mins 27.552secs to Wight’s 4mins 27.853secs.

“I’m really happy with my time,” Wight said after his first ever 4km individual pursuits. “I obviously would rather have been on the top step but am still stoked with the result.

“I’m enjoying racing at senior level, my TP & IP have been a great start and I’m looking forward to the rest of the competition.

“I backed up well, after TP last night and came out feeling really good today.”

After suffering a fall ahead of qualifying Australian Champion Alex Morgan came out with blazing speed in the ride for bronze. Catching his opponent with over a lap to go on route to bronze in 4mins 25.059secs.

Men’s Omnium

Sam Welsford leads the omnium after the first day of competition following wins in the scratch race and elimination and fourth in the individual pursuit.

Under 19 Men’s Omnium

Ryan Schilt put in a dominant rides in the 1km time trial 1min 4.643secs and flying lap 13.237secs to put himself eight points off the lead of Josh Toovey heading in to the points race.

Schilt picked up points across nine of the ten sprints to move in to the lead and claim gold. It was a dramatic final 20 laps as Nick Edwards took a lap moving him to the bronze medal position, one point ahead of Toovey. Silver went to New Zealand’s Tom Sexton

Under 19 Men’s 1km Time Trial

In the penultimate heat West Australian Kye Bonser flew around the track for a time of 1min 6.595secs. Only to be pushed to silver in the final heat by Bradley Knipe of New Zealand with 1min 5.156secs. Kai Chapman made it two Australians on the podium with bronze in 1min 6.678secs.

Under 19 Men’s Scratch Race

After a quick recovery from the omnium Ryan Schilt was back on track to claim silver in the scratch race behind Carne Groube (New Zealand). Tom Bolton took bronze.

Text via Cycling Australia Media Release