Devonport's Macey Stewart celebrates after winning the under-19 women's 20km points race on the second night of competition at the national track championships in Sydney. Picture: CYCLING AUSTRALIA
TASMANIAN teenager Macey Stewart admitted it was a surprise to land another national junior title so soon after a sickening crash.
Seven months after suffering a cracked skull and bleeding on the brain in a criterium crash at the Canberra Tour, the Devonport cyclist won the under-19 women's 20-kilometre points race on the second night of competition at the national track championships in Sydney.
``It's a huge shock to me how well I am going, particularly with such a quality field. I have only been back on the bike for about three months,'' said Stewart, who was forced off the bike and all forms of physical activity for four months following the accident.
``I really didn't know how I was going to go entering the race, so to win it, I am just really speechless.''
In an exciting final, the 16-year-old teams pursuit silver medallist showed her strength winning three intermediate sprints and lapping the field along with Josie Talbot (NSW), Alex Manly (SA) and individual pursuit champion Kelsey Robson (WA).
The lead allowed all four riders to rest as the peloton, led by scratch race national champion Elisa Wundersitz (WA), tried in vain to erase the gap.
Stewart won on 38 points over Talbot (31 points) and Robson (29).
``I stayed really aware, I had a look at the screen every now and again to keep a check on who was getting closer to me and I would just make sure in the next sprint I'd beat them,'' Stewart added.
``Everyone knew I was out in front and they were trying to bring me back in, but I had to give it everything, stick in there and hold it.''
Thursday night at the Dunc Gray Velodrome was dominated by South Australians who claimed four of the seven gold medals including wins to Christmas carnivals star performers Glenn O'Shea and Annette Edmondson, the latter clinching her 14th national track title by defeating West Pine's Amy Cure in a thrilling women's 3000-metre individual pursuit final.