World championship bronze medallist Sophie Williamson (Central Otago, Wakatipu) was a convincing winner of the women's under-19 15km road race at the national club championships in Hawkes Bay on Thursday.
Williamson took control from the start and won by 37sec from Devon Hiley (Counties-Manukau) and Jennifer Muhl (Southland).
Williamson won a bronze medal in the points race at last year's world junior track championships.
She is preparing for this year's championships in Invercargill in August, when she could reach the top of the podium.
Waimate rider Dylan Kennett won the under-19 men's race in 33min 51sec for the 25km event.
Kennett took charge early and won the gold medal by 43sec from Nick Bain (Counties-Manukau) and Hamish Schreurs (Pegasus).
Kennett, a double medallist at last year's world junior track championships, is also preparing for the Invercargill event.
In the men's aged 40-44 years grade, former Otago runner Aaron Strong (Auckland) edged Gisborne's Peter Murphy by 9sec for his winning time of 34min for the 25km race.
Gordon McCauley (Department of Cycling), a former Otago rider, was third in 35min 10sec.
The elite women's event was dominated by the Olympic-bound pursuit group of Jaime Neilsen, Rushlee Buchanan, Lauren Ellis and individual pursuit world champion Alison Shanks.
Neilsen was pleased with her strong performance to win the 25km event in 36min 50sec with Buchanan third, Shanks fourth and Ellis seventh.
Ross Gamble, of Dunedin, won the masters men aged 65 to 69 15km title in 24min 28sec, and Jan Brosnahan was second in the masters women 25km race in 45min 7sec.
