MOUNT Gambier Cycling Club juniors competed in the SA/NT combined state junior track titles in Adelaide over the weekend, with some impressive results to show for their efforts.
None moreso than Niel Van Niekerk (pictured), who secured some impressive results in the Under 15 junior men, with a state record to boot.
He claimed silver in the individual pursuit, time trial, team pursuit, scratch race, sprint and points race, with gold and the state record in the team sprint.
In the Under 11 girls division Molly Opperman claimed gold in the time trial, the individual pursuit, combined scratch and points race, while Freya Miller claimed silver in the same events.
The Under 15 girls saw Sophie Wight finish fourth in the time trial, claim gold in the team pursuit, bronze in the team sprint and fifth place in the scratch race.
Tess Wight performed well in the Under 17 women’s division, with gold in the individual pursuit, silver in the time trial, gold in the team pursuit, fourth place in the team sprint and silver in the points race.
For the Under 17 boys, Harry Opperman finished fourth in the team pursuit and claimed bronze in the team sprint.
As coach of Limestone Coast Sporting Academy for the sport, plus the Mount Gambier Cycling Club junior program, Mark Wight was pleased with the results.
He said from the Under 11 girls right through to the Under 17s, all riders performed well.
He said Van Niekerk had come “from nowhere” this year, with an impressive performance against some tough opposition.
“Niel was a bit disappointed to miss out on state in road and track previously, so he has really put his head down and gone exceptionally this year,” he said.
“The guy who beat him broke a state record himself in an individual event – some of his times are actually quicker than the Under 17 boys.
“Nine times out of 10 times Niel would have won the gold in all those events, so it was a good effort against such strong opposition.”
Wight said Tess Wight performed well in her pet event, the individual pursuit, which she specifically trains for.
She also faced a strong sprinter, which provided a good contest.
“Tess was really happy with the times she did,” Wight said.
“She is really happy with where she is at and to come up against the quality rider she did, she was rapt with the results.”
In the Under 11 girls category, Wight described both Molly Opperman and Freya Miller as “fantastic” young riders with a big future.
“Molly is a fantastic sprinter and Freya is going to be a very good rider,” he said.
“They are different riders, both have a big future and are going really well.”
Likewise Wight said Harry Opperman performed well, especially considering he had just stepped up to the Under 17 ranks.
Overall he said he was pleased with all the riders, with more coming through the ranks and a bright future for the club.
He said the academy had been positive for the Limestone Coast junior cyclists, providing access to training facilities such as nutrition and top-level coaches that were previously only available in places like Adelaide.
