Southland riders made strong start at national track champs

Southland riders impressed on the opening day of the Vantage Track National Championships in Cambridge.

World champs-bound Kirstie James and Nick Kergozou produced personal bests on the way to claiming titles, with Kergozou claiming the added bonus of being able to continue using the @kilokergy Insta handle for another 12 months.

Connor Douglas claimed the first national title for Southland in the men’s para-cycling 1000m time trial.

Southland also banked two silver medals thanks to Rhylee Akeroyd and Mitchel Fitzsimons, and three bronze medals thanks to Tyla Green (x2) and Sophie-Leigh Bloxham. Southland held the lead in the points shield at the end of day one.

James held off fellow Vantage Elite teammate Jaime Nielsen to win the 3000m individual pursuit final, storming home in the second half of the final to win in 3:26.070.

Photo: Nick ‘Kilo’ Kergozou. Pic: Dianne Manson

The pair were even through the first 1000m before James’ relentless pace gave her the advantage, eventually taking two seconds off her previous best with Nielsen pleased with her effort to be runner-up in 3:30.665.

Nina Wollaston set a personal best to claim the bronze from fellow Waikato Bay of Plenty rider McKenzie Milne.

“Personally it was a pretty good ride for me,” said James who retained her national title. “To execute a ride like that at track nationals is so satisfying. It was a solid PB and a smooth and consistent ride which is something I have been working on for a while.

“I can only peak once a year which will be the world championships so to produce a time like that out of peak form shows that I am on the right track.”

Aaron Gate and Kergozou have both come through a tough four-day road race at the New Zealand Cycle Classic, but still were able to convert back on the boards at the Avantidrome.

Gate had a tight battle early on against exciting young Canterbury rider Josh Scott, after both rode personal bests of 4:16 in qualifying for the 4000m individual pursuit.

They were even at the halfway mark in the final before Gate’s bigger gear made the difference, winning in 4:15.421, which was nearly five seconds under his previous best.

“It has worked for me well in the past to rip off a good IP coming off the road. It has been four years since I have done an individual pursuit so to come out to rip over five seconds off my PB is pretty rewarding.

Photo: Southland rider Kistie James. Pic: Dianne Manson

“I wanted to do the IP as a bit of a benchmark for myself and it is good to see the form is good and hopefully I can keep building on that sort of power and speed heading towards next month’s world championships which I am excited about.”

Scott’s fellow Canterbury teammate Hugo Jones won the bronze medal, taking five seconds off his previous best to clock 4:19.693.

Southland’s Kergozou showed his real speed for an endurance rider in winning the 1000m time trial in 1:00.940 ahead of Zac Williams (Auckland) and omnium world champion Campbell Stewart (West Coast North Island).

After coming out of the New Zealand Cycle Classic on the road, Kergozou impressed with a strong ride.

Double junior world champion Laurence Pithie (Canterbury) showed his class with an emphatic win in the 1000m time trial in a slick 1:03,712, with fellow Cantabrian Jenna Borthwick claiming the junior women’s 500m time trial.

It proved a double for Borthwick who went solo to claim the 7.5km scratch race from fellow Cantabrian Charlotte Spurway, but Pithie could not quite repeat, pipped on the line by Southland’s Mitchel Fitzsimons in a sprint final of the 10km scratch race

The championships continue until Sunday. The event is livestreamed for the afternoon sessions on Sky Sport NZ Next Youtube channel https://tinyurl.com/ur24rz2

Results:

Elite:

Women 500m time trial: Shaane Fulton (Tasman) 35.132, 1; Jaymie King (Waikato BOP) 36.732, 2; Sophie-Leigh Bloxham (Southland) 37.197, 3.

Men 1000m time trial: Nick Kergozou (Southland) 1:00.940, 1; Zac Williams (Auckland) 1:01.712, 2; Campbell Stewart (WCNI) 1:02.053, 3.

Men 4000m individual pursuit: Aaron Gate (Auckland) 4:15.421, 1; Josh Scott (Canterbury) 4:21.662, 2; Hugo Jones (Canterbury) 4:19.693, 3.

Women 3000m individual pursuit: Kirstie James (Waikato BOP) 3:26.070, 1; Jaime Nielsen (Waikato BOP) 3:30.665, 2; Nina Wollaston (Waikato BOP) 3:33.645, 3.

Under-19:

Women 500m time trial: Jenna Borthwick (Canterbury) 36.580, 1; Rhylee Akeroyd (Southland) 37.290, 2; Tyla Green (Southland) 37.412, 3.

Men 1000m time trial: Laurence Pithie (Canterbury) 1:03.712, 1; Mitchel Fitzsimons (Southland) 1:04.118, 2; Zakk Patterson (Waikato BOP) 1:04.203, 3.

Women7.5km scratch race: Jenna Borthwick (Canterbury) 1, Charlotte Spurway (Canterbury) 2, Tyla Green (Southland) 3.

Men 10km Scratch Race: Mitchel Fitzsimons (Southland) 1, Laurence Pithie (Canterbury) 2, Zakk Patterson (Southland) 3.