Kavinda Herath<\/p>\n
Commonwealth Games medallist Natasha Hansen racing in the women Elite Keirin at the SIT ZeroFees Velodrome in Invercargill on Friday, during the Oceania Track Championships.<\/p>\n
Southland riders have impressed during the Oceania Track Championships at the cycling velodrome in Invercargill this week.<\/p>\n
Cycling Southland'sGlen Thomson saidNatasha Hansen was looking dynamicin the heats of the women'selite keirin event on Friday and qualified for the final.<\/p>\n
Another Southlander, Corbin Strong, has also featured strongly,finishing fourth in theomnium despite not being part of the men's elite team.<\/p>\n
John Hawkins<\/p>\n
Jordan Castle competing at the SIT ZeroFees Velodrome in Invercargill on Friday, during the Oceania Track Championships.<\/p>\n
Southland's Eddie Dawkins, who has already won gold during the championships, willracein the men'skeirin event onSaturday. <\/p>\n
Anotherfavourite for that event isAustralia's MattGlaetzer, a friend and rival ofDawkins,Thomson said.<\/p>\n
He believed the two \"beasts\" could reach speeds of up to 80kmh during the racing.<\/p>\n
Kavinda Herath<\/p>\n
Women's elite keirin race at the SIT Velodrome in Invercargill, during the Oceania Track Championships this week.<\/p>\n
\"Australia versus New Zealand, we love that sort of battle.\"<\/p>\n
Dawkins and his team-mates in the New Zealand men's sprint teamset the championships alighton Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
Theywon the OceaniaChampionshipin a record-winningtime of 42.508 seconds.<\/p>\n
It was the best time laid down by a New Zealand sprint team.<\/p>\n
The championships, whichstarted on Wednesday and will finish on Saturday,has attracted nearly 180 of New Zealand and Australia's best track riders on the SIT Velodrome.<\/p>\n
Thomson said the track was running fast and records were being broken.<\/p>\n
Cycling Southland general manager Nicola Willssays the elite riders from the twocountrieshave produced some red hot racing as they vie to qualifyfor the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.<\/p>\n
Wills is thrilled to have the event in Invercargill for the first time in four years.<\/p>\n
The Southland public hasgot behind the event, with strong crowd numbers and hundreds of school children turning up each day.<\/p>\n
Southland has been represented in the New Zealand eliteteam through the likes of Hansen, Dawkins,Kirstie James, Nick Kergozou, Tom Sexton, Conor Shearing, Bradley Knipe.<\/p>\n
Five Southland riders have formed part of the New Zealand under-19 team racing at the event; Navarh Robertson, Mitchell Fitzsimons, Tayla Green, Jessica Spencer and Natalie Green.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Read more:<\/p>\n
Southland cyclists impress at Oceania Championships in Invercargill - Stuff.co.nz<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Kavinda Herath Commonwealth Games medallist Natasha Hansen racing in the women Elite Keirin at the SIT ZeroFees Velodrome in Invercargill on Friday, during the Oceania Track Championships. Continue reading