NZ record for Botha

Tokyo Olympic cyclist Bryony Botha has become the third fastest female pursuiter in history after another record-breaking effort on the penultimate day of the Cycling New Zealand Track National Championships.

The 24-year-old set a new mark of 3min 21.506sec for the 3000m individual pursuit in qualifying on Thursday at the Grassroots Trust Velodrome.

Botha smashed that in winning the final yesterday, clocking 3min 19.818sec to dip under the 3min 20sec mark for another New Zealand record.

Only two women have gone faster in world record holder Chloe Dygert (USA), in 3min 16.937sec, and world champion Lisa Brennauer (GER), who clocked 3min 18.258sec in winning the world title last year.