It was another night to remember for Team Scotland in the velodrome as Jack Carlin won Keirin silver and Neah Evans Individual Pursuit bronze.
Carlin came into the event as one of the favourites, but such is Keirin racing, things can change in the blink of an eye. In the opening round it was plain sailing, the man from Paisley leading as the derny bike pulled off the track, controlling the race from the front to easily progress.
It was all drama in the semi-finals though, as Australian Glatzer rode into Carlin’s back wheel – lucky the former Glasgow Riderz man stayed upright and took the third and final qualifying spot for the final. Glatzer would hit the ground though and take England’s Joe Truman down with him, the latter unconscious for some time before thankfully getting to his feet – we wish him well.
Come the final Carlin was drawn in position one again, right behind the derny. As the motorbike pulled off, and the race wound up he held his line, but couldn’t stop Trinidad’s Nicholas Paul stealing a march and he would go on to take gold. Carlin tracked him all the way though to hold off the rest and secure another superb silver, after the same colour in Men’s Sprint four years ago.
Having produced the best result in Scottish history in this event at Commonwealth level, Carlin still wanted more, as he said:
"I’m disappointed, as I came here to win, but Keirin’s a tough one. It's a podium again, which I’m obviously pleased with, but it's not what you want.
“He got the jump on me, that was for sure! I felt confident going in, I probably made a gear choice error out there, I geared up thinking there's no chance I'm going to pull position one again as I had it all day and that didn't help when he jumped.
"Tomorrow's a new day; I feel good, my legs are good. I think there was tactical errors and I know now who's going well, so it's all to play for tomorrow.”
Ali Fielding also made his Commonwealth Games debut in the event, one he seldom rides, which showed with a cagey opening ride. Back for the repechage he rode with much more confidence, a great move on the final lap saw him find a gap, which he drove through, but he couldn’t quite out power Joe Truman from England on the line. He’ll back for his favoured sprint event tomorrow.
For Evans, the Women’s 3000m Individual Pursuit is a new event, but she acquitted herself with flying colours.
Having broken the Games record this morning, before being surpassed by two of her rivals, Evans went into the bronze medal ride as favourite – her 3.23 clocking this morning also a British record.
Known as a fast starter, it was perhaps a surprise that she didn’t move ahead of her Australian opposition until the 1000m mark, but there was never any panic, as once she did, she only went further and further clear. In the end it was a supremely classy ride, that she could be very proud
With that bronze medal around her neck, the Aberdonian said:
"The crowd was unreal! We actually came with tactics that are shouted and I'm like "I'm not gonna be able to hear you", you'll have to walk the line - that shows you how loud it all is!
“And I’ll be honest, after halfway it was just a case of get your head down and keep going - pretty simple tactics! I got the new British record this morning - I didn't quite back it up but it's such a nice feeling - I'm delighted.
“I haven't been training for this, it's been a secondary focus, so to come away with a medal off basically the last few months of training, I'm delighted"
Both Evans and Carlin will be hunting for further medals tomorrow, as will Neil Fachie and Lewis Stewart in the Men’s Tandem B Sprint.
Full results can be found here