Australia took top honours on the opening day of the 2017 Oceania Track Championships at Melbourne’s DISC Velodrome winning nine titles, with New Zealand taking three.

There was rainbow jerseys in action on the first day of competition as Australia’s world champion men’s team puruisters excited crowds to take gold in the elite men’s team pursuit. While in the elite men’s team sprint New Zealand’s Edward Dawkins, Ethan Mitchell & Sam Webster also flying in their rainbow jerseys took the tile. Australia also emerged on top in the women’s team pursuit and team sprint.

Rio Olympians Sam Welsford (Australia) and Georgia Baker (Australia) took out the points races. Kaarle McCulloch picked up the women’s 500m time trial.

In under 19 events Australia dominated the team sprints with Rihana Pezaj and Lara Tucker winning the women’s and James Brister, Kye Bonser and Matt Richardson the men’s. Ellesse Andrews, Emily Shearman, Nicole Shields and Kate Smith gave New Zealand another reason to celebrate dominated the women’s team pusuit.

Riley Hart (Australia) claimed the men’s omnium. In a busy day for Ellesse Andrews she also emerged on the top step of the podium in the 500m time trial.

Elite
Men Team Pursuit: Kelland O’Brien, Alex Porter, Sam Welsford, Callum Scotson & Rohan Wight (AUS)
Men Team Sprint: Edward Dawkins, Ethan Mitchell & Sam Webster (NZL)
Men Points Race: Sam Welsford (AUS)
Women Team Pursuit: Ashlee Ankudinoff, George Baker, Amy Cure, Annette Edmondson & Alex Manly (AUS)
Women Team Sprint: Rikki Balkder, Courtney Field & Holly Takos (AUS)
Women Points Race: George Baker (AUS)
Women 500m Time Trial: Kaarle McCulloch (AUS)

Under 19
Men Team Sprint: James Brister, Kye Bonser & Matt Richardson (AUS)
Men Omnium: Riley Hart (AUS)
Women Team Pursuit: Ellesse Andrews, Emily Shearman, Nicole Shields & Kate Smith (NZL)
Women Team Sprint: Rihana Pezaj & Lara Tucker (AUS)
Women 500m Time Trial: Ellesse Andrews (NZL)

Photos: Con Chronis