Trott sprints to first Commonwealth Games gold at Glasgow 2014

Trott sprints to first Commonwealth Games gold at Glasgow 2014

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Team England’s Laura Trott took her first gold medal at a Commonwealth Games in the women’s points race final at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

It was an all British line-up which adorned the podium in Glasgow with Elinor Barker of Wales taking silver and Scotland’s Katie Archibald claiming bronze on the final day of track cycling in Glasgow.

"I can't believe it. I felt so bad at times in that race. I am just so glad I managed to get into that final sprint. I wouldn't say I am 100%," Trott said.

"I haven't eaten properly for the last two days. I have been living off porridge and I am not even a porridge fan. This is right up there with the Olympics for me because of the way I have had to come into it after the disappointment of the last two days."

Before the final sprint, it was Barker who led the race by one point over Trott so it was all to come down to the final bell lap.

In a nail biting final sprint, Archibald pipped Trott to the post to take the five points, enough to give her the bronze, Trott taking three points - enough to give the 23-year-old the lead and the title.

England’s tandem pairing of Sophie Thornhill and Helen Scott were victorious for a second time on the track, this time in the para-sport kilometre time-trial.

This was not only a multiple victory for the English pairing but they also set a new Commonwealth record in the process.

“It's the most painful event, nobody ever looks forward to a kilo. But we were working so hard for this one. It only hurts really two laps to go, but those go really slowly! It's horrible.” Scott said shortly after the race.”

“This is the one we train for day in, day out. To get the gold, and post that time, I so happy.” Thornhill added

The Scottish paring of Aileen McGlynn and Louise Haston had been leading until the final ride with a time of 1:09.771 but had to settle for silver after the English duo posted a time of 1:08.187 after four laps of the track in the last heat.

On the time set by Scotland, Scott commented: “It was a fast time, very good. Sophie and I have only done one kilo before, so we had no idea what we were going to come out with. I knew from the first rev it was a good ride, and we kept that going.”

In the women’s sprint England’s Jess Varnish took a bronze medal in two straight rides after her opponent Fatehah Mustapa of Malaysia was relegated in the first heat for a sprinters’ lane infringement.

The 23-year-old Bromsgrove rider now has two bronze medals, having won her first in the 500m time-trial during the first evening of competition at the Games.

The men’s scratch came down to frantic burst for the line where Manxmen Mark Christian and Joe Kelly placed fourth and fifth respectively. Scotland’s 18-year-old rider Mark Stewart rode to an impressive sixth place at the end of 80 laps.

No British riders were present in the keirin major final having all missed out on top three placings in the earlier second round. In the minor final Scottish riders Chris Pritchard and John Paul placed 9th and 11th respectively with England’s Matt Crampton finishing in 10th.

Results

Commonwealth Games track cycling results


British Cycling Fan