Otago's top rider is missing but the province will still have
strong medal chances at the national track championships in
Invercargill this week.
Double world champion Alison Shanks is taking a break to
recover from a hip injury.
In her absence, Otago riders Katie Schofield and Alysha Keith
will hope to shine and turn hours of hard training into
medals.
Rising star Keith could medal in any or all of the events in
which she rides, from the 500m time trial to individual
pursuit, scratch and points races.
Schofield aims to retain her standing lap New Zealand title
and may even better her record of 19.594sec.
Schofield, who has been training in Invercargill over the
summer for proximity to the indoor track, also takes on all
the sprint events, including the entertaining keirin. She and
Keith will combine for the team sprint.
On the men's side, Brad Evans has turned his attention to
track over the summer after finishing 20th in the Tour of
Southland.
Evans and Patrick Jones, who hopes to equal or better his
silver medal-performance in the scratch race last year, will
eye medals and national selection. Both riders competed at
the Oceania Games in Adelaide in November and have been in
scorching form on the Seddon Park Velodrome in Mosgiel.
The team is complemented by former elite rowers Elyse Fraser
and Kirstie James, who plan to post personal bests and build
for the future. They will pair up for the team sprint and are
joined by Keith in the women's 3000m team pursuit.
The championships start today and finish on Sunday. Age group
and omnium national events will be held at the end of next
month.
- Jan Brosnahan
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