McCulloch and Ankudinoff winners on day one of Oceania Track Champs

Team NSWIS cyclists Kaarle McCulloch and Ashlee Ankudinoff have both secured gold medals on the opening day of the 2017 Oceania Track Championships at DISC Velodrome in Melbounre.

McCulloch took a convincing win to defend her 500 metre time trial title in 34.417secs with Breanna Hargrave making it two Australian’s on the podium with bronze.

Ankudinoff joined fellow Rio Olympians Amy Cure (TAS) and Annette Edmondson (SA) to team with Alex Manly (SA) (who came in for another Rio Olympian, Georgia Baker, in the final) to power to gold in the women’s team pursuit.

“It was great to be back, we only came together as a team yesterday, had our first track season since Rio,” dual world champion Ankudinoff said of the quartet who posted a time of four minutes and 25.517 seconds, nearly three seconds faster than New Zealand (4:28.381).

“This is the start of our season, we had a nice long break after Rio and we are back rejuvenated and ready to roll. It is a big week here, but this is a stepping stone, a start to the next four years.”

Fellow NSWIS riders Cameron Scott, Nick Yallouris, Charles Hofman and Max Housden are also entered in the four day event.

Pic: Cycling Australia / Con Chronis / Ashlee Ankudinoff Instagram