World title for cyclist Kaarle McCulloch in the Team Sprint

Stephanie Morton and Kaarle McCulloch (NSWIS) won their first world title as a team sprint pairing in a stunning display of speed at the Pruszkow Velodrome on Wednesday to open the Australian Cycling Team’s campaign at the 2019 UCI Track World Championships.

The pairing topped the afternoon qualifying session (32.492), before setting a new national mark of 32.368secs in their first-round defeat of China.

In the final, the duo scorched the track once again, with McCulloch bolting from the gates and Morton powering home to record a time 32.255secs which eclipsed their new national mark.

The win was Morton’s first at an elite World Championships, however, it is her fourth career rainbow jersey after she piloted visually impaired cyclist Felicity Johnson to three Tandem world titles in 2011 and 2012.  Morton and McCulloch’s previous best was silver at the 2017 World Championships. 

For McCulloch, it was a fourth team sprint world crown after partnering Anna Meares to three straight titles (2009-11).

“We just got better and better with every ride. We were a bit nervous to begin with, but we just kept focussing on our processes which is what we were here to do,” said McCulloch, who came full circle celebrating her 2019 crown on the same velodrome she won her first world title in 2009.

“Ten years on I am the world champion with Stephanie Morton and in a blistering time too!

“We are really proud, and happy that this is all building towards Tokyo.  This is a nice step in that direction we will take a lot of confidence out if this.” 

PRUSZKOW, POLAND – FEBRUARY 27: Daria Shmeleva and Anastasia Voynova of Russia (Silver Medal), Kaarle McCulloch and Stephanie Morton of Australia (gold medal) and Miriam Welte and Emma Hinze of Germany (Bronze) pose on the podium for the Women’s team sprint on day one of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships held in the BGZ BNP Paribas Velodrome Arena on February 27, 2019 in Pruszkow, Poland. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

McCulloch also revealed she is relishing the switch to the position of first-wheel after spending her years with Meares in the second-wheel position.

“Anna and I worked really well together, but I feel a little relieved that I am only doing one lap now,” McCulloch joked. “So sucked in Steph, it was hard work chasing Anna in first-wheel, so I hope I am making it hard for Steph to chase me.”