Another medal for Park at junior world champs

Madeleine Park, a top cyclist from Saint Kentigern College. Photographed for College Sport. 24 June 2015 New Zealand Herald Photograph by Brett Phibbs

Auckland rider Madeleine Park backed up from her rainbow jersey yesterday to win a bronze medal on the third day of the UCI Juniors Track Cycling World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Park, 16, from St Kentigern College won the bronze medal in the women's 2000m individual pursuit, venturing back to the velodrome after riding in three team pursuits on the way to the world title yesterday.

The national junior record holder, who broke Sarah Ulmer's long-standing mark earlier this year, qualified third fastest in 2:26.627 to earn a bronze medal ride-off against Ireland's Josie Knight.

The young New Zealander had to dig deep in a close encounter, leading by just 6/100ths of a second at the 1km mark, edging half a second clear before the Irish rider fought back. Park prevailed in 2:27.710, which was 15.100ths of a second ahead of her opponent.

"The highlight was Maddy Park who bounced back after three tough team pursuit rides,"
said coach Ross Machejefski. "It was a big effort backing up for her, and very exciting considering she is a first year junior and eligible again next year."

Teammate Holly White (Auckland) finished 11th.

It brings New Zealand's tally to five medals, equal the total number for the last two years and from one of the smallest teams, with only eight riders venturing to Kazakhstan.

More medals beckon tomorrow with outstanding Palmerston North rider Campbell Stewart lying in joint first place after the first day of the omnium.

Stewart, who won the gold medal in the scratch race earlier in the week, is equal on points with Australian Rohan Wight midway through the competition.

He was 10th in the scratch race, after a small group put a lap on the field, before fighting back to finish fifth fastest in the 3000m individual pursuit, and then won the exciting elimination race.

Taupo's Lewis Eccles produced an impressive effort to finish sixth in the men's 1000m time trial, clocking a personal best 1:04.448.

Team sprint silver medallists Olivia Podmore (Canterbury) and Emma Cumming (Southland) finished seventh and 12th respectively in the individual sprint. Podmore clocked 11:304, unofficially under the current national junior record, and Cumming 11.792, both personal bests.

Both won through their first round before being beaten in the second round. Podmore fought back to win her second round repechage but was beaten in two straight rides in the quarterfinal against the top qualifier Emma Hinze (Germany).

The Canterbury rider finished seventh overall in the fifth to eight place ride-off.

Tomorrow Stewart completes the men's omnium, Auckland's Bryony Botha begins the women's omnium, Eccles tackles the men's sprint with Michaela Drummond in the scratch race.