Medal rush at cycling nationals

The 2013 Australian Track Cycling Championships concluded over the weekend with a host of NSWIS athletes winning medals.

Mitchell Bullen was the standout performer of the weekend, claiming gold medals in the men’s sprint and men’s team sprint. Bullen defeated Olympian Matt Glaetzer in straight heats to win his maiden men’s sprint title, before joining fellow NSWIS athletes Andrew Taylor and Jamie Green to win gold in the men’s team sprint.

Taylor also won two gold medals at the championships, adding to his men’s team sprint crown with victory in the men’s keirin, flying past his competitors on the final stretch to secure gold.

Kaarle McCulloch continued her preparation for the upcoming world championships with three medals; gold in the women’s 500m time trial, as well as silver in the women’s team sprint and women’s sprint.

The women’s events were also highlighted by Ashlee Ankudinoff winning bronze in the women’s 3000m individual pursuit before teaming with Josie Talbot and Lara Batkin to take bronze in the women’s 3000m team pursuit.

Caleb Ewan added to his already impressive resume with silver medals in the men’s 15km scratch and team pursuit with fellow NSWIS athlete Tirian McManus, while also picking up bronze in the men’s 40km points race.

NSWIS athletes Tim McMillan and Peter Lewis rounded out the senior events by taking silver in the men’s kilometre time trial and bronze in the men’s sprint, respectively.

The under-19 events were dominated by NSWIS rider Jack Edwards, who won three gold and one silver medal before eventually being named as the under-19 Champion of Champions award winner.

Nathan Bradshaw, Bradley Heffernan, Michael Docker, Max Housden and Travis Smedley also won medals in the men’s under-19 events.