Anna Meares injured as team pursuit squad gets off to a flyer in New Zealand
OLYMPIC sprint champion Anna Meares has withdrawn from the team sprint at the New Zealand track world cup after hurting her back at training this week.
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OLYMPIC sprint champion Anna Meares has withdrawn from the team sprint at the New Zealand track world cup after hurting her back at training this week.
Meares made the trip to Cambridge for the second world cup of the season, which started today, but pulled out of team sprint qualifying scheduled for tonight.
Cycling Australia officials said Meares had strained her back at training during the week, leaving Kaarle McCulloch and Stephanie Morton to combine in the two-person team sprint event.
Meares, 32, has not yet been ruled out of the remainder of competition, which includes the individual sprint and keirin over the weekend.
A CA spokesperson said Meares was making good progress in her recovery from the back “tweak” but they would take no risks with the star and she would not be rushed into racing.
Australia starred in both men’s and women’s team pursuit qualifying on day one of the world cup.
The men’s quartet of Jack Bobridge, Michael Hepburn, Alex Edmondson and Glenn O’Shea rode a scorching 3mins 56 secs to qualify more than two seconds faster than reigning world champions New Zealand, ahead of the medals being decided on Saturday.
Australia’s world champion women’s team pursuiters were forced to take to the boards without Melissa Hoskins, who was a late withdrawal after contracting pneumonia, and were second fastest behind Canada.
Hoskins was replaced by Tasmanian Georgia Baker, who combined with Amy Cure, Annette Edmondson and Ashlee Ankudinoff to ride 4mins 20 secs — less than one second slower than the Canadians but three seconds faster than third-placed New Zealand.
reece.homfray@news.com.au
Originally published as Anna Meares injured as team pursuit squad gets off to a flyer in New Zealand
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