Young Hart beats fastest
RILEY Hart’s aim at last week’s Cycling Australia Junior Track National Championships was just to win a medal.
But the 15-year-old cyclist exceeded way beyond his own expectations, claiming three golds as well as a silver in the Under-17 age group, while breaking a national record as part of the boys 3000m team pursuit.
Representing Victoria at Darebin International Sports Centre, Hart began the four-day championships in commanding form. He dominated his opening race, which consisted of 60 laps (15000m), with points awarded every 10 circuits.
Hart canvassed enough points to secure the gold before the final sprint.
“I thought the points race was my best chance to win a medal,” he said.
“The legs were good and I just made sure to pick up some early points — I was in the zone.”
On the following day, Hart and three other Victorian riders pulled off a sizzling time of 3,17.79 at an average speed of 55kmh in the 3000m team pursuit final to set the national record.
“Winning my first national championship in the points race was special, but its great to win as a team and share the elation with your mates,” said Hart.
“We all rode so hard and we probably weren’t given much of a chance to break the record, but we all just agreed to really have a crack right from the start.”
The year 10 student from The King David School also came close in the 2000m individual pursuit, but was defeated for gold by teammate Godfrey Slattery.
While he couldn’t top Slattery, the result still dubs Hart as arguably the second-best endurance rider in the country.
“Before the championships there were probably seven or eight kids all pretty evenly matched, so it was my goal to really peak for these titles and really put my hand up,” said Hart.
On the final day of competition, Hart led a Victorian trio in the hotly contested 30-lap Scratch Race, which features the best three riders from each state.
Hart rode confidently, extending with a lap to go and finishing 20m clear to assure his gold medal hat-trick.
The all-conquering display earned Hart an invitation to the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS).
“It was the culmination of a season long plan to peak for these championships,” said Hart.
“I’d like to thank my coach Rebecca DiCello, my sponsor Total Rush and The King David School for all its support to date. To get into the VIS would allow me to really focus on track endurance with the hope of one day representing Australia at the Commonwealth or Olympic Games — there’s a fair bit more training to do before that.”
AJN STAFF
Riley Hart crosses first in the Under-17 Scratch Race. Photo: John Gondek
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