Wilson-Haffenden named in two world junior championship teams

Hobart cyclist Felicity Wilson-Haffenden is hopeful she won’t have to make a tough decision after her name featured in two Australian teams to compete at junior world championship level.

Tasmanian cyclist Felicity Wilson-Haffenden has been chosen to compete for Australia at the world track and road junior championships. Picture: Chris Kidd

HOBART cycling ace Felicity Wilson-Haffenden believes it could be possible to compete in both the Road World Championships and the Junior Track World Championships, despite the events falling just two weeks apart.

The 17-year-old won the under-19 road race and time trial double at January’s national road titles, before breaking the pursuit record twice at the national track titles and Oceania track championships at Brisbane in March.

She was one of ten riders selected for the tracks worlds team late last month, and on Wednesday was named in Australia’s road worlds squad.

Her coaches had wanted her to qualify for the road and track world championships, at Glasgow and Colombia respectively in August, then make a decision on which one to compete in.

But Wilson-Haffenden admitted it would be a tough call to choose, and is holding out hope she can feature in both.

“I’d really like to, I think roads is about a fortnight before track. So it would be really handy to be over that side of the world already, and it should be good preparation to get both done in one go,” she said.

“I’d probably lean more to road world championships (if I have to choose), probably because in terms of getting a contract in Europe it’s a slightly bigger opportunity, but I don’t know if I could make that choice.

Sam McKee with one of the gold medals he won at the recent national junior track championships. Picture: Andrew Trovas

“It would take a lot of planning to get into good form for both disciplines, but I think it’s a possibility to be able to do both.”

It’s a good conundrum for the teenager to have, who has burst onto the cycling scene the past year after previously playing hockey.

“Making juniors was my goal for this year, but seeing where I’ve come from in January it’s all happened pretty quickly at a whirlwind pace,” she said.

“Being my first time (at world level) there’s no expectations from the cycling community, but personally you always want to do your best and there’s pressure in that respect.”

Wilson-Haffenden was joined in the Australia’s track team by Launceston’s Sam McKee.

The 18-year-old pushed his selection case with gold in the scratch race and team pursuit at the national junior championships.

“I’m keen to give it a crack at the highest stage,” he said.

“I’m pretty keen to target the scratch race and give it a real hot crack, as well as the pursuit.

“I dream to meal in the scratch race, but we’ll see how we go.

“We’ve got a good plan in place and we should be coming in with some really good form if everything goes to plan.”