Commonwealth Games: Mitchell's done but more to come

New Zealand men's sprint team Sam Webster, Ethan Mitchell and Eddie Dawkins celebrate their victory. Photo / Greg Bowker

You couldn't wipe the smile off Ethan Mitchell's face after his part in New Zealand's first gold medal of the Glasgow Games yesterday.

The team sprinters of Mitchell, Sam Webster and Eddie Dawkins had promised - and delivered - and backed up their world championship victory in Colombia earlier this year.

But for the 23-year-old Mitchell it was a different situation from his two mates.

Dawkins and Webster were backing up in the individual sprint a few hours after the golden ride. However this was Mitchell's Games.

He's done for Glasgow, and maybe that's why he looked to be carrying his emotions close to the surface.

On the podium he looked skywards, blew hard, doubtless thinking of all the months of work which went into this success.

Then there were his parents, Jason and Sandra, sitting high in the Chris Hoy velodrome, and his cousin Emma looking on.

He sang the national anthem, sandwiched between "two of my best mates". Dawkins gave him a playful tug on the shoulder before arms were raised aloft.

"It all catches up with you, how much work you put in and it's all worth it when you're on top of the podium."

These are salad days for the New Zealand sprint programme, and the key is their ages. They are only starting to suggest what they could be capable of.

Coach Anthony Peden acknowledged that "there's no certainties in this game" and yet the preparation was immaculate.

"Nothing surprised me today and there's a bit more in the tank for Rio, don't worry," he said.

The trio made a point of mentioning Simon van Velthooven and Matt Archibald, the other two members of the sprint quintet.

This is a team game made up of immensely competitive individuals. Get them pulling in the same direction - and Peden has talked of the importance of total buy-in when he took charge of the national squad last year - and ...

"We're world champions and the world are looking at us," Peden said.

"I said to the boys [the night before the final] that our two main rivals have been world champions [Australia] and England's been Olympic champions, even if their form's not right they know how to win.

"We had to bring our A game and execute perfectly, otherwise they'll take it from us.

"That comes back to the programme and the work ethic they've got, that gives them confidence.

"There's no doubt along the way, we get to the line with no stone unturned. Otherwise there's a cloud out there going 'am I good enough', well they know they are because they work bloody hard." Mitchell was confident of more success before the track programme ends on Monday, but yesterday was his day. The other two have other chances. Mitchell took his one opportunity.

As Southlander Dawkins, never shy of a blunt line, said of their unbending confidence: "We had to [back it up]. If you talk a big game you have to be able to come to the plate and deliver.

"We tried to do that and we've come away with the gold."