Schofield in classy company on podium in Australian cycling

Dunedin’s Katie Schofield was in golden company when she finished third in the 500m time trial on the penultimate day of competition in the international track cycling series in Adelaide on Saturday.

Schofield clocked 35.651 to finish third in the time trial behind the current world champion over the distance, Wai Sze Lee of Hong Kong and London Olympic champion Anna Meares, the Australian great who has won four world time trial titles.

Lee took the gold medal in 33.888 seconds, faster than her winning time at the world championships earlier this year, ahead of Mears and Schofield.

Hamilton’s Jaime Nielsen and Timaru’s Shane Archbold both lie in third place after the first day of competition in the six-discipline omnium.

Nielsen, a member of the Olympic team pursuit, was third in the flying lap, second in the points race and fifth in the elimination race to finish on 10 points behind runaway leader Isabella King (AUS) who won all three events. Fellow Kiwi Olympic Lauren Ellis is fourth on 12 points after fifth in the flying lap, fourth in the points and third in the elimination.

In the men’s contest Archbold was second in the flying lap, ninth in the 20km points race but recovered to win the elimination, with young Southland rider Pieter Bulling finishing fifth fastest in the flying lap, second in the points and eighth in the elimination.

Australians Luke Dawson leads on seven points in the low point system with compatriot Alex Edmondson on 11, Archbold on 12 and Bulling fifth on 15.

The final day of competition over two long sessions Sunday includes the second day of omnium competition, sprints for men and women and junior endurance events.