Speedster Matthew Glaetzer wins men’s sprint title at Oceania Championships in Adelaide

MATTHEW Glaetzer has used the disappointment from the Commonwealth Games to drive him towards the fastest flying 200m ever ridden on Australian soil.

GLASGOW COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2014- DAY 1- Natahn Hart, Matthew Glaetzer and Shane Perkins win Bronze in the Men's team Sprint during day 1 of the track cycling at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. Pics Adam Head

MATTHEW Glaetzer has used the disappointment from this year’s Commonwealth Games to drive him towards the fastest flying 200m ever ridden on Australian soil.

The 22-year-old won the men’s sprint title at the Oceania Championships in Adelaide tonight for the third consecutive year after qualifying in a scorching 9.838 secs.

He broke the previous record held by Frenchman Gregory Bauge who set 9.854 at the 2012 world championships in Melbourne.

Matthew Glaetzer in action in the Men's Sprint at the Commonwealth Games. Picture: Adam Head

The Australian young gun then disposed of New Zealand team sprint world champion Eddie Dawkins, 25, in straight sets of their final to claim the gold medal and secure Australia an automatic start in the event at next year’s world titles.

The win carried even more significance for Glaetzer after he bombed out of the men’s sprint in the first round in Glasgow in July, despite being the fastest qualifier in the entire field.

At the Games he was outsmarted by England’s Jason Kenny in their sprint match-up and although he hit back by winning the keirin two days later, he still felt it was an opportunity missed.

But in Adelaide tonight Glaetzer executed both his qualifying and race plan to perfection.

“It (Glasgow) was definitely a learning experience and it was super disappointing, I’ve got high expectations and when you’re representing your country you want to perform at your best,” Glaetzer said.

“I have put it behind me in some regards but I’ve learnt a lot from it and am much better because of it.”

Glaetzer said he was surprised to break Bauge’s all-comers record in qualifying yesterday.

“I didn’t expect to go that fast, I was aiming at a 9.9 but ended up breaking the all-comers record with a 9.8 so that was fantastic, it hurt me a lot but it set me up for the rest of the day.”

On a day of records at the Adelaide SuperDrome, Western Australian 15-year-old Tahlay Christie set an Oceania record in qualifying for the under-19 women’s sprint with a time of 11.677 secs.

Christie then faced reigning junior world champion Courtney Field in the final where Field took the gold medal in straight sets with two tactically superior races.

The Oceania Championships conclude in Adelaide on Saturday where Anna Meares and Stephanie Morton headline the field for the women’s sprint.

Originally published as Speedster Matthew Glaetzer wins men’s sprint title at Oceania Championships in Adelaide