Cycling: Sweet justice for Sell

An official's blunder deprived West Coast North Island's Catherine Sell of a national cycling gold medal two years ago but justice was done last night.

Sell, 19, won the open women's 8000m scratch race on the final day of the national track championships in Dunedin with a fierce sprint down the back straight on the final lap to edge out Aucklanders Melissa Holt and Jade Gilbertson in a time of 10m 52.6s.

At the same velodrome in 2001, Sell led after the scheduled 32 laps but the officials mistakenly made them cycle an extra lap. She had put all her energy into the 32nd lap and was passed by three other riders on the extra lap.

The powerful Auckland combination of Andy Williams, Justin Grace and Neil Campbell won gold in the men's team sprint final. Grace also won the men's keirin event.