While Webster is best known as one-third of New Zealand’s world champion team sprint line-up, the national individual sprint title has special meaning for him after he first used it as a springboard back into the black skinsuit after missing out on selection for the 2012 London Olympics.
"After missing out on London it was my goal to win four sprint titles, because that was me putting my hand up for Rio and saying you can’t leave me out again,’’ Webster said.
"I needed to get to Rio otherwise I was going to finish my degree and stop riding — it was that simple. I put all my eggs in that basket because that London disappointment hurt me.
"We’ve got a different plan now. We’ve got a big few years coming up and Tokyo is going to be big for us, because we’ve got that fire in the belly. We will look to build each year, potentially some of the events that were important before won’t be as important now."
Webster overcame Auckland and New Zealand team-mate Ethan Mitchell in two rides after Mitchell had topped qualifying in the morning. Eddie Dawkins (Southland) was the third-fastest qualifier but suffered a surprise quarterfinal loss to Waikato-Bay of Plenty rider Callum Saunders. He proved that result was no fluke when he pushed Mitchell to three rides in their semifinal, but it was another Rio Olympian in Zac Williams who made it a clean sweep for Auckland when he won the bronze medal final in two rides over Saunders. Southland’s Natasha Hansen defended her New Zealand title in the women’s sprint with two comfortable-looking wins over Olivia Podmore (Canterbury) in the final. Emma Cumming (Southland) claimed bronze with two wins over Tess Young (Waikato-Bay of Plenty).
"It was my first sprint racing since Rio, so I felt like I was just trying to get my bearings in the first few rounds," Hansen said.
"It was good to meet Emma in the semis because she has been pushing me to my limits in training and it was good to have that hard racing going into the final."
Hansen will race the keirin today before returning for work in Hamilton where she has recently completed her qualifications to be an air traffic controller.
"I’m pretty lucky with my company Airways. They’ve been so good with giving me the time off I need with my sport."
Rushlee Buchanan, who has come off tough road racing for her US professional team in Australia, won the women’s 20km points race from Rio Olympic and Waikato-Bay of Plenty team-mate Racquel Sheath, with Michaela Drummond (West Coast North Island) third. Dylan Kennett (Waikato-Bay of Plenty) and Southland’s Josh Haggerty mounted a long-range attack in the men’s 15km scratch race. Kennett cleared out in the last few laps to claim his second national title in as many nights, with Haggerty hanging on for silver and Carne Groube (West Coast North Island) sprinting the chasing bunch for third. On the opening day on Thursday, Auckland sprinter Williams registered a shock win against Olympic team-mate Dawkins in the final of the elite men’s 1000m time trial.
Young Palmerston North prospect Jordan Castle was third behind the two Olympic representatives.
Waikato-Bay of Plenty rider Jaime Nielsen claimed the women’s 3000m individual pursuit title from team-mate Buchanan, with Southland’s Kirstie James heading off Lauren Ellis (Mid-South Canterbury) for the bronze medal to prevent a clean sweep of Rio Olympians.
Otago’s Alysha Keith did not progress past the qualifying stage, recording a disappointing time of 3min 44.083sec.
Kennett claimed the men’s 4000m individual pursuit, holding off local rider Nick Kergozou in the gold medal ride, with Hugo Jones (Canterbury) taking bronze from Tom Sexton (Southland).
Hansen edged out Southland team-mate Emma Cumming to claim the women’s 500m time trial title, with Tess Young (Waikato-Bay of Plenty) in bronze.
London Olympic BMX medallist Sarah Walker (Waikato-Bay of Plenty) continued an impressive apprenticeship on the track with fifth place.
