Natasha Hansen celebrates her silver medal. Photo / Greg Bowker
Natasha Hansen celebrates her silver medal. Photo / Greg Bowker
The New Zealand cycling medal chest was boosted by three further discs at Brisbane's Anna Meares Velodrome tonight.
Natasha Hansen earned silver in the individual sprint, Dylan Kennett took bronze in the individual pursuit, and Eddie Dawkins secured bronze in the Keirin final to complete the evening programme.
That takesNew Zealand's track haul to six medals – one gold, three silver and two bronze.
Hansen's best-of-three semifinal against Lauriane Genest was the sort they might use on a skite reel to promote the sport.
The New Zealander had the better of the Canadian in the opening race where she engaged in a cat-and-mouse duel before looming like a black shadow over her opponent in the final lap to win by 0.052s.
Genest demonstrated her pluck in the second race as she emerged from the inside lane to sneak ahead by 0.012s.
The decider was a doozy as the pair attempted to outmuscle each other into the straight. The tyres crossed the line in a flash; the wheel spokes almost in alignment.
Hansen, channeling Top Gun in her reflective black riding helmet, held on by 0.001s. New Zealand fans should be thankful Genest didn't have any extra air in her front tyre.
That infinitesimal margin guaranteed Hansen silver or gold; otherwise she risked bronze or nothing.
Australian Stephanie Morton defended her Glasgow title 2-0 against Hansen, who became the third New Zealand woman after Sue Willis in 1990 and Donna Wynd in 1994 to secure a medal in the event.
Hansen's success came after claiming silver in the previous day's team event with Emma Cumming.
The 28-year-old earlier broke her own national record in the 200m flying lap, recording 10.760secs and qualifying behind only Morton and Genest.
Dylan Kennett took bronze in the men's individual pursuit after smashing his personal best by 6.131s in qualifying.
Dylan Kennett of New Zealand wins bronze in the Men's 4000m Individual Pursuit. Photo / Photosport
He set a new national record of 4m 13.414s, overtaking the 4m 15.988s effort that his coach Jesse Sergent set at the 2010 world championships at Copenhagen.
Sergent patrolled his charge's performance trackside in the ride-off against Australian Jordan Kerby.
Kennett held a 2.035s advantage at the halfway mark before extending it to all but the final lap. With the finish line in his sights, the Kiwi rider switched from pedal-powered torpedo to channel his best mamil (middle-aged man in lycra) over the final 100m when he realised he was on the same straight as his opponent.
He put an arm in the air and rose from his aerodynamic position in a statement which oozed confidence.
England's Charlie Tanfield defeated Scotland's John Archibald by 0.704s in the final.
Team sprint champions Dawkins and Sam Webster lined up in the Keirin, an event where Webster was the silver medallist four years ago.
Edward Dawkins celebrates his Bronze medal. Photo / Greg Bowker
This time it was Dawkins' turn to shine. He held his nerve as the field threatened to box him in the final stanzas and had enough power to shoot through 0.168s adrift of Australian Matthew Glaetzer. Welshman Lewis Oliva was second with Webster fifth.
Earlier, New Zealand's individual pursuit riders fell short of the medal rides, with Kirstie James and Ellesse Andrews qualifying fifth and sixth respectively.
The top four, headed by Scotland's Katie Archibald, all went under the previous Games record.
The third Kiwi in the field, Bryony Botha, qualified ninth.
