Webster chases more medals in world junior cycling

New Zealand cyclist Sam Webster will chase his third medal on the final day of the UCI Junior World Track Championships in Moscow tomorrow.

The big Aucklander, who won a gold medal in the keirin and was part of the winning team sprint, has qualified for the semifinals of the sprint competition on the penultimate day at the Moscow Velodrome today.

Webster (Auckland) qualified with the second fastest time behind local Russian rider Sergey Litvinenko with a time of 10.205 seconds, reaching over 70kph.

Team-mate Ethan Mitchell (Auckland) also qualified as the 22nd fastest in 10.574 to progress to the elimination rounds. Mitchell struck the third qualifier in his first round, losing to the talented Colombian Christian Tamayo Saavedra.

Webster was able to progress, winning his first round against Poland’s Krzysztof Maksel and then dispatching Njisane Philip from Trinidad. He has qualified for the semifinals in the best of three format with the winner progressing to the gold medal series and the loser competing in the bronze medal ride-off.

Canterbury’s Liz Steel completed in the gruelling six-event omnium, involving a 200m time trial sprint, scratch race, individual pursuit, points race and 500m time trial. Steel recorded two personal best times on her way to a creditable ninth placing in the event won by Australian Megan Dunn.

Ruaraidh McLeod (Christchurch) and Patrick Bevan (Taupo) finished seventh overall in a strong performance in the final of the exciting Madison competition. Earlier they qualified comfortably in fourth place.

The pair rode strongly in the final, keeping in touch with the front pack and riding aggressively with the gold medal was won by Australia’s Luke Durbridge and Alex Carver.

While Webster chases further glory in the sprints tomorrow, also in action on the final day is Cameron Karwowski (Southland) in the men’s omnium while Steels returns for the Points race.