Cycling: Explosive start pushes Cresswell to title

Dave Cresswell reminded the national cycling selectors he was still the country's top kilometre time-trial specialist by winning the title at the national championships at Mosgiel last night.

In less than ideal conditions at the outdoor track, Christchurch's Cresswell recorded a time of 66.15s to head Aucklander Justin Grace by more than a second.

Cresswell gained all his advantage in the first 250m with a more explosive start, reaching his top speed sooner, while Grace was more conservative out of the blocks.

Cresswell has ridden for New Zealand at World Cup meetings this summer, but has been bypassed for the team which will compete at the World Championships in Los Angeles later this month.

He could reckon on going at least a second faster in warmer conditions without the hindrance of the wind on an indoor velodrome, which would put him into international contention. Bronze went to Josh England, the Aucklander in his first year in senior ranks.

Grace also won the senior men's sprint title. The Commonwealth Games representative beat local rider Daniel Beatson in the final, while Cresswell took the bronze.

Auckland also provided the senior women's 3000m pursuit titleholder with Paddy Walker, another first year senior, taking the title from Otago's Dale Tye, who has finished runner-up to Sarah Ulmer for the past two years.

Walker was faster than her Auckland championship winning time of last month, showing further improvement since she finished fourth in the same event at the junior world championships in July.