IMAGE | Michael Willson
In the space of half an hour on the final night of competition, Australia claimed three gold medals – through Stephanie Morton, Amy Cure and Matthew Glaetzer – to take our overall GC2018 gold tally to 10.
Stephanie Morton announced herself as a superstar in her own right – not just the next Anna Meares, snaring her third gold medal of the Gold Coast Games, taking out the women’s keirin.
Morton powered to victory in 10.886 seconds, finishing just ahead of teammate Kaarle McCulloch.
“There has been a lot of work behind the scenes but we have such a great squad. We’ve got no prima donnas or people that are hard work and that environment is flourishing on the track.”
“We get behind each other and that internal pressure is working wonders – everyone has come out and been really dominant,” said Morton.
Sprint King Matthew Glaetzer finished his heavy Commonwealth campaign with victory in the 1000m time trial.
Glaetzer, who was “gutted” following his shock elimination from the men’s sprint on Saturday, achieved redemption in emphatic fashion, clocking the fastest time ever ridden at sea level, 59.340s.
As the last man to ride, Glaetzer knew he had to beat New Zealander Edward Dawkins’s time of 59.928 seconds to take gold. He burst out of the blocks and vaulted himself to maximum speed, crossing the line in a blistering 59.340s.
“It was big today … after a shocking day yesterday. I had to regroup, sometimes things don’t go the way you plan them. ” Glaetzer said.
“This is really good to come back and prove to yourself that you can do it, get one up for Australia, because I owed them one for yesterday, so I am over the moon.”
Glaetzer finishes the Games with two gold in the 1km TT and keirin, and one bronze in the team sprint.
Tasmanian Amy Cure won Australia’s ninth track cycling Commonwealth gold, prevailing in a perfectly executed 10km scratch race. Cure benefited from teammates Ashlee Ankudinoff and Annette Edmondson in the final few laps, edging ahead of Scottish pair Katie Archibald and Neah Evans on the final lap.
“It was amazing. I was a bit disappointed yesterday but I came out with a different mindset. The girls backed me and gave me the perfect ride. I can’t thank the girls enough. We went with a plan and executed it perfectly,” said Cure.
Australia finished the GC2018 track cycling competition with 19 medals overall; 10 gold, 3 silver and 6 bronze.
GC2018 Australian Medal Tally
GOLD
Women’s Team Pursuit – Annette EDMONSON, Amy CURE, Alex MANLY, Ashlee Ankudinoff
Men’s Team Pursuit – Kell O’BRIEN, Leigh HOWARD, Alex PORTER, Sam WELSFORD and Jordan KERBY
Men’s Keirin Matt GLAETZER
Women’s Sprint Stephanie MORTON
Women’s Team Sprint – Kaarle McCulloch and Stephanie MORTON
Women’s 500m Time Trial Kaarle MCCULLOCH
Men’s 15km Scratch Race Sam WELSFORD
Men’s 1000m Time Trial – Matthew GLAETZER
Women’s Keirin – Steph MORTON
Women’s 10km Scratch Race – Amy CURE
SILVER
Women’s 3000m Individual Pursuit Rebecca WIASAK
Women’s 500m Time Trial Stephanie MORTON
Women’s Keirin – Kaarle MCCULLOCH
BRONZE
Men’s B&VI Sprint – Brad HENDERSON, Tom CLARKE (pilot)
Men’s B&VI 1000m time trial Brad Henderson, Tom CLARKE (pilot)
Men’s team sprint – Patrick CONSTABLE, Nathan HART and Matt GLAETZER
Men’s Sprint – Jacob SCHMID
Women’s 3000m Individual Pursuit – Annette EDMONDSON
Women’s Sprint Kaarle MCCULLOCH
