Oceania Para-Cycling Track Championships Come to a Close

Australia, Japan and New Zealand all found the top of the podium this week at the Oceania Para-Cycling Track Championships in Invercargill, New Zealand.

Australia’s Kieran Modra and pilot Scott McPhee won gold in the 4km Individual Pursuit after fighting off Japan’s Tatsuyuki Oshiro and pilot Yasufumi Ito.

Modra, who is hoping to compete at his sixth Paralympic Games in London next year, is the reigning Paralympic champion across the 4km distance for visually impaired athletes, having won gold in the event at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

Michael Gallagher of Australia continued his dominance in the C4-C5 class with a gold medal in the 4km Individual Pursuit by defeating New Zealand’s Chris Ross and teammate Ryan Hughes.

For Japan, Tatsuyuki Oshiro teamed up with pilot Yasufumi Ito to claim gold in the men’s 1,000m Tandem Time Trial and Ishii Masashi won the men’s 1,000m Individual Time Trial.

New Zealand’s Jayne Parsons and pilot Sonia Waddell crossed the line first in the women’s 3,000m Individual Pursuit, finishing just ahead of Australia’s Brandie O’Connor and Kerry Knowler.