Smith's silver heaven

REUBEN Smith has concluded a wild final month of the track cycling season as one of the fastest up and coming sprinters in the country. The 17-year-old will be coming home with three silver medals from four events at the AusCycling Track Nationals in Brisbane, just two weeks after emphatic silver and bronze medal performances in New Zealand at the Oceania Track Championships. Across four action-packed days at the Anna Meares Velodrome, Smith was able to land on the second step of the podium in the junior men’s under 19s sprint, team sprint and 1km time trial. An exhausted but elated Smith said it had been a thrilling ride during the past month, leaving some of his best form until last. “It was awesome, such a positive way to come away from this season, especially making the change from endurance to sprint,” he said. “I came back with a lot more than anyone really expected me to, including myself.” Travelling up to Brisbane with his family in tow, Smith was one of the first riders to hit the track in the under 19s sprint last Friday, where he would qualify third fastest of the 14 riders. Smith would go on to win his next three rounds, including two best of three sprints, edging out Queenslander Mitch Louie in a decider in the semi-final. His win would set up a repeat of the quarter-final sprint in New Zealand, coming up against junior world champion Tayte Ryan in the duel for gold, who overmatched the Wangaratta sprinter in two races. As he did in New Zealand, the South Australian Ryan proved to be a class-above taking home gold in all events where Smith finished second, and set a new Australian under 19s record in the time trial. Smith said it was quite the change-up of pressure and expectation from going up against the best in his field in a quarter-final to a gold medal final. “It was quite an experience… he’s just on another level than I am,” he said. “He even beat most of the elites as well, he was something to watch. “I look up to him and the elites at the top level and I want to be that fast.” Smith was unable to repeat his heroics in the keirin on day two falling short of the final, but made amends with Victorian teammates Hamish Clarkson and Danial Power to take silver in the team sprint final. The Wangaratta High School student was put to the test in the 1km final on day four, finding just enough improvement on his qualifying time to come second in the final. “It’s one of the hardest events I’ve done, coming from pursuiting and those longer events; you’ve really got to push yourself in the kilo,” Smith said. “It was a grueling day, I was happy with the result.” Smith competed at the track nationals last year, but in the long-distance pursuit events as he pursued a cycling career in endurance. After much consideration in the off-season, Smith decided to make the change to sprinting, which has now kick-started a rapid rise to one of Victoria’s top cycling prospects. “It’s funny to think about, a year ago I was thinking I would be a lot faster in the long distance but here I am sprinting with the big boys,” Smith said. The 17-year-old will be taking some much deserved rest across the next few weeks, as he prepares to make the seismic jump into the elite category next season. Smith said he will be spending most of his off-season in the gym to try and build on his strength as he looks forward to the challenge of keeping up with the elites. “Most of the guys at the top are in that 25-year-old age gap when their really peaking and it won’t be easy to compete with as an 18 year-old,” he said. “It’s a big change up, it’s going to take a long time to catch up but I’m willing to put in that work.”

Smith's silver heaven

Safe cycling network pinned for city

Make cycle season safe for all road users

State road cycling championships move on after more than two decades

Smith to test nation’s elite following breakout season

Springhurst teenager wins state mountain bike championship

Rufous Whistler – arrival of a summer songbird

Bombers go back-to-back in A grade

“No stone unturned” – Police committed to the long-haul in manhunt

Start your engines, Wilby Drags are back

Most popular stories