3000 Metre Pursuit Record Thrashed!

Simply Awesome! --ryan


Women's 3,000m Individual Pursuit - Heats


By Andy McDobbin
Date: 8/21/2004
Olympic Track Cycling - Day Two
 

As in the last Olympic Games, the 3,000m IP was expected to be a tactical dogfight between New Zealander Sarah Ulmer and the retiring Dutch lady Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel, who recently finished victorious in the road time-trial, despite having had to nurse wounds after crashing in the road race. However, another name was bought into the equation to make it a very interesting qualifying for the medal contests.

Like yesterday, the heats of the IP proved that the track was still lightning quick. Several personal bests were set – including one for Erin Mirabella (USA) - although the big name riders went last. First, Australia's Katie Mactier produced the first ever sub 3:30 3km ride in history, breaking the world record with 3:29:945. van Moorsel was found wanting, though, and despite an excellent ride of 3:30:422, all eyes were on Ulmer. After a slow first km, the New Zealander just got faster and faster, and she crossed the line having broken the world record again by about 3 and a half seconds - her time was an incredible 3:26:40.

1. Sarah Ulmer (NZL) 3:26:40 (WR)
2. Katie Mactier (AUS) 3:29:945
3. Leontien Zijlaard-van Moorsel (NED) 3:30:422
4. Katherine Bates (AUS) 3:31:236
5. Elena Chalykh (RUS) 3:33:709
6. Karin Theurig (SWI) 3:34:746
7. Emma Davies (GBR) 3:35:069
8. Olga Slyusareva (RUS) 3:35:177
9. Maria Luisa Calle Williams (COL) 3:35:430
10. Erin Mirabella (USA) 3:36:992
11. Lenka Valova (CZE) 3:54:372
12. Evelyn Garcia (ESA) 3:56:055

Round 1

Eight women went through to the next stage, as fourth and fifth fastest from the heats battled, and so on. As expected, the first heat between Katherine Bates (Australia) and Elena Chalykh of Russia was the most keenly contested. Both riders under-performed in comparison to their heat times, with Bates over three seconds slower on 3:34:743, beating Chalykh by 1.7 seconds.
Current champion in this event Van Moorsel, no doubt smarting from being pushed into third best time, was next up, against Switzerland's Karin Thuerig. Apparently, though, she had been holding back as she clocked 3:28:747, to be the third woman in history (and the third in the space of 2 hours) to go under 3:30. Surely good enough for the gold medal contest?

The penultimate heat was between Katie Mactier and Britain's Emma Davies. Mactier got out of the starting gate like a rocket and already had 4 seconds lead on Davies. With 500m to go on the crown of a bend, the hapless Briton was caught, and could only watch as Mactier gritted her teeth and rode on to the finish. Her time was a new personal best, beating her 'new-old' world record - 3:28:095. It was either going to be Ulmer or Van Moorsel excluded from the gold medal duel, and - as expected - Ulmer came through the better. She caught World Points champion Olga Slyusareva on the line, clocking a time of 3:27:444 - the best time in Round 1, and one which will take her to the gold medal contest tomorrowe, against Katie Mactier of Australia. Meanwhile, van Moorsel will have to be content with a battle for bronze, against another Aussie - Katherine Bates.

3,000m IP - Round 1

Heat 1
Katherine Bates (AUS) bt. Elena Chalykh (RUS)
3:34:743 3:36:442

Heat 2
Leontien Ziljaard-van Moorsel (NED) bt. Karin Thuerig (SWI)
3:28:747 3:34:831

Heat 3
Katie Mactier (AUS) bt. Emma Davies (GBR)
3:28:095 3:38:015

Heat 4
Sarah Ulmer (NZL) bt. Olga Slyusareva (RUS)
3:27:444 3:36:263