Southland cyclists impress at Oceania Championships in Invercargill – Stuff.co.nz

Kavinda Herath

Commonwealth Games medallist Natasha Hansen racing in the women Elite Keirin at the SIT ZeroFees Velodrome in Invercargill on Friday, during the Oceania Track Championships.

Southland riders have impressed during the Oceania Track Championships at the cycling velodrome in Invercargill this week.

Cycling Southland'sGlen Thomson saidNatasha Hansen was looking dynamicin the heats of the women'selite keirin event on Friday and qualified for the final.

Another Southlander, Corbin Strong, has also featured strongly,finishing fourth in theomnium despite not being part of the men's elite team.

John Hawkins

Jordan Castle competing at the SIT ZeroFees Velodrome in Invercargill on Friday, during the Oceania Track Championships.

Southland's Eddie Dawkins, who has already won gold during the championships, willracein the men'skeirin event onSaturday.

Anotherfavourite for that event isAustralia's MattGlaetzer, a friend and rival ofDawkins,Thomson said.

He believed the two "beasts" could reach speeds of up to 80kmh during the racing.

Kavinda Herath

Women's elite keirin race at the SIT Velodrome in Invercargill, during the Oceania Track Championships this week.

"Australia versus New Zealand, we love that sort of battle."

Dawkins and his team-mates in the New Zealand men's sprint teamset the championships alighton Wednesday night.

Theywon the OceaniaChampionshipin a record-winningtime of 42.508 seconds.

It was the best time laid down by a New Zealand sprint team.

The championships, whichstarted on Wednesday and will finish on Saturday,has attracted nearly 180 of New Zealand and Australia's best track riders on the SIT Velodrome.

Thomson said the track was running fast and records were being broken.

Cycling Southland general manager Nicola Willssays the elite riders from the twocountrieshave produced some red hot racing as they vie to qualifyfor the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Wills is thrilled to have the event in Invercargill for the first time in four years.

The Southland public hasgot behind the event, with strong crowd numbers and hundreds of school children turning up each day.

Southland has been represented in the New Zealand eliteteam through the likes of Hansen, Dawkins,Kirstie James, Nick Kergozou, Tom Sexton, Conor Shearing, Bradley Knipe.

Five Southland riders have formed part of the New Zealand under-19 team racing at the event; Navarh Robertson, Mitchell Fitzsimons, Tayla Green, Jessica Spencer and Natalie Green.

Read more:

Southland cyclists impress at Oceania Championships in Invercargill - Stuff.co.nz