Medal haul for Tom Sexton on way to Paris Olympics

Southland rider Tom Sexton heads to his European cycling base buoyed with a bunch of podium performances on the track and road as he begins his journey to next year’s Paris Olympics.

Sexton will join up with his Bolton Equities Black Spoke road team, bringing with him a bunch of medals for New Zealand culminating in the elite honours and third place overall in the Oceania road championships near Brisbane yesterday.

He was third overall in a sprint finish with the leading 12 riders, but claimed the elite title, with the first two Australian riders both under-23.

This follows Sexton’s victory in the Oceania time trial title in emphatic fashion on Friday.

In the last 17 days, the 24-year-old has picked up seven medals for New Zealand on the track in Cairo at the key Olympic qualifying Nations Cup, and at the Anna Meares Velodrome for the Oceania championships.

At the weekend he switched to the road, to win the Oceania time trial title in emphatic fashion and finished with the elite road honours.

Sexton won bronze medals in the team pursuit and madison with Black Spoke teammate George Jackson as well as 10th in his first Nations Cup omnium. He headed to Brisbane for the Oceania track competition, which offered important global ranking points and entry to the world championships. Sexton won silver medals in the individual pursuit, omnium and points race and joined with Jackson to win the madison title.

He concluded with his gold medals in the road time trial and elite road race.

Twenty-one-year-old Australian Liam Walsh won the combined road race at Mount Crosby west of Brisbane, with Sexton third and the leading elite rider, just ahead of teammate Jackson who recorded the same time.

Oceania Championship Road Results:

Men’s race, Overall: Liam Walsh* (Team Bridgelane) 3:23.15, 1; Brady Gilmore* (ARA) same time, 2; Tom Sexton (NZL) st, 3. (* denotes Under-23 rider)

Elite: Sexton 3:23.15, 1; George Jackson (NZL) st, 2; Jordan Villani (St Kilda) st, 3. Other NZers: James Harvey st, 6; Alex Heaney at 17s, 22.

Under-23: Walsh 3:23.15, 1; Gilmore st, 2; Declan Trezise (ARA) st, 3. Plus NZers: Oliver Grave, st, 9; Keegan Hornblow at 5s, 13; Ari Scott at 1:24, 27; Callum Mardon at 10:19, 32.

Junior: Will Heath (Balmoral) 2:08.29, 1; Levi Hone (Echuca) at 30s, 2; Josiah Grierson (Penrith( at 36s, 3. Also NZers: Finn Wilson at 2:30, 10; James Gardner same time, 11; Carter Guichard at 2:43, 13; Elliot Robertson at 3:07, 20; Maui Morrison at 3:11, 23; Marshall Erwood at 3:14, 29; Noah Hollamby at 3:17, 30; Wilson Hannon at 6:42, 39.

Women, elite: Sophie Edwards (ARA) 2:32.02, 1; Matilda Reynolds (St Kilda) st, 2; Ruth Corsett (Townsville) st, 3. NZers: Kate McCarthy st, 6;

Under-23: Keeley Bennett (Bridgelane) 2:32.02, 1; Isabelle Carnes (ARA) st, 2; Sophie Marr (ARA) st, 3. Plus NZers: Belle Judd st, 6; Charlotte Clarke st, 7; Arabella Tuck at 14s, 12; Rhylee Akeroyd at 14s, 16;

Junior: Talia Appleton (Bridgelane) 1:40.17, 1; Felicity Wilson Haffenden (Bridgelane) at 2:15, 2; Nicole Duncan (Bridgelane) same time, 3. Also NZers: Ruby Spring at 2:15, 4; Tiree Robinson at 2:17, 7; Lola Bryson-Boe at 2:19, 9; Georgia Simpson at 2:25, 11; Ava Maddison at 2:30, 16l Kirsty Watts at 7:18, 18; Maia Barclay st, 19; Muireann Green at 9:30, 20.

Para-Cycling:

Men Hand Cycle 4: Jono Nelson (NZL) 1:24.26, 1.