Young South Canterbury skaters clean up at Oceania champions – Timaru Herald

STU PIDDINGTON

Last updated16:59, April 19 2017

SUPPLIED/Libby Benson

Timaru's Leah McDonald was the stand-out speed skater in the junior grade at the Oceania championships in Brisbane winning all her races.

Four young South Canterbury skaters claimed plenty of titles at the Oceania Speed Skating Championships in Brisbane.

The impressive Leah McDonald was the star claiming all sixindividual events in the junior women'sgrade and anchoring the New Zealand relay team to victory.

Ella Benson, Charli Nevin andJanKuepper were also among the Kiwi gold medallists as they dominated many of the cadet girls,junior women and junior men'sraces.

Libby Benson

Timaru's Jan Kuepper on the way to winning the junior boys time trial.

The three Australians girls who attended last year's world championships could not match McDonald's power and pace.

She fired an early warning shot winning the 200m time trial in 19.579s, over a second clear of Australian KayleenVance.

In the 500m three of the four finalists were from South Canterbury, with Ariana Snook and Sophie Lowen lining up with Australian Charmaine Chu.

Libby Benson

Timaru's Roshean O'Connor leading Ella Benson in the cadet girls 1000m.

McDonald beat Chu home with Snook third and then beat two Australians home in the 1000m.

In the 20,000m elimination, Australian Giselle Stogdalewent into the final lap leading, with Snook chasing and McDonald in third.

McDonald however timed her run perfectly, powered out of the last corner to take the title fromStogdale by the narrowest of marginswith Snook third.

Libby Benson

Timaru's Leah McDonald (left) wins the 20,000m in a close finish from Giselle Stogdale of Australia in the junior grade at the Oceania Speed Skating Championships in Brisbane.

The 10,000m points race went McDonald's way after she went solo for 3km scoring maximum points, then she finished second in the final sprint to take the title.

McDonald put the icing on the cake with a comfortable win in the marathon from Snook on the final day's racing.

The New Zealand skaters alsodominated the cadet grade (12-14 years) with South Canterbury's Ella Benson the stand-out.

Benson comfortably took out the 200m time trial and 500m sprint, with Charli Nevin third.

The 1000m was a clean sweep for the Kiwis with Benson again on the top step of the podium, Nevinsecond and Serinity Griffiths third.

Benson and Nevinalternated the lead in the 10,000m elimination as they broke away from the field, with Benson prevailing in a close finish.

In the 5000m points race the stronger skaters took the early points until Nevinand clubmate RosheanO'Connorgot away, accumulatingthe points until they were caught with two laps to go.

They had however done enough with Nevin claiming the gold and O'Connor silver.

Nevin then joined with Benson and Griffiths to take out the 3000m while O'Connor grabbed a second silver in the No.2New Zealand relay team.

The Australians finally claimed a victory in the half marathon after Nevincouldn't quite get past Asha Hickford on the final straight, despite a determined effort.

In the junior men Jan Kuepper set a scorching time in the 200m time trial, winning in 18.294s.

Kuepper's time was faster than the senior mens winner, Australian Robert Cook who stopped the clock in 18.442s.

In the 500mKuepper went quickly from start to finish to hold out Australian Kosi Lui and repeated the dose in the 1000m.

Kuepper was again leading at the halfway mark of the 10,000m points race but had to withdraw with leg problems.

He however bounced back to to take out the5000m relay with Hadley Beech and fellow South Canterbury skater Keaton Swindells.

The overall junior mens' title was on the line in the marathon after Lui claimed the longer distance titles.

Unfortunately Kuepperlegs again gave him problems, forcing him to withdraw handing Lui the title.

South Canterbury skaters won 16of the 24individual golds claimed by the New Zealand team, with the balance coming in the veterans and masters grades.

New Zealand coach Bill Begg said there were several highlights.

"Leah was obviously the best performed New Zealand skater, in a great effort.

"The junior boys and girls relays were also standout as while Leah won the time trial but the next four girls were Australians, showing they did have a decent team."

Begg said getting three of the four finalists in the junior girls' 500m from South Canterbury was also a proud moment.

"Some of the skaters however still need to learn race tactics, when you are part of a team."

-Stuff

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Young South Canterbury skaters clean up at Oceania champions - Timaru Herald