Cycling: Ulmer breaks record

Champion rider Sarah Ulmer surprised herself and the spectators in breaking her 3000m individual pursuit record at the New Zealand track cycling championships at the Manukau velodrome yesterday.

Despite cool and windy conditions, Ulmer rode 3min 38.939sec in qualifying. Her previous record was 3min 40.176sec, set two years ago.

Even Ulmer was a little bemused at her performance as she hasn't been on the track for a month after competing on the road in Australia.

Ride-offs to establish the medal rounds for the men's 4000m individual pursuit resulted in the two fastest times by Hayden Godfrey, who is national record holder and Auckland's Richard Bowker.

In the semifinals of the women's kierin, Otago's Katri Laike will come up against Donna Wynd (Auckland), Kate Mullarkey (Auckland) and Joanne Kiesanowski (Canterbury).

Tonight all the pursuit finals will be held with Ulmer favoured to beat Gail Tye of Otago.