National triumphs for Central Coast cycling trio

CYCLING TRACK –

The Central Coast Cycling Club’s junior trio of Liliya Tatarinoff, Nicole Duncan and Maya Dillon have returned from the 2022 National Track Championships weighed down in gold, silver and bronze.

Taking place at Anna Meares Velodrome in Brisbane from Thursday to Wednesday, March 24 – 30, the three local Under 17 Women’s cyclists took out 15 medals between them in both individual and team events.

The first highlight came on Thursday when the trio competed together for NSW in the Team Sprint Gold Final against Victoria, not only winning but also breaking their own national record with a new fastest time of 51.952 seconds.

From here, Maya Dillon went on to place third in the Sprint, winning her one-on-one tiebreaker in the Bronze Final against Victorian, Haylee Jack.

“As I was heading into the last lap and the bell went, both (Jack) and I jumped in sync, she was ahead and I thought it was all over,” said Maya in reflection on the race.

“I recall thinking to myself, ‘pain is temporary, success is forever’, (and) as I came around her in the bend I was already smiling knowing I had just achieved something amazing.

“Although it was bronze, I was super super pleased that all my hard work over the previous 2 years had paid off and brought me that step closer to my big dream: the Olympics.”

Nicole Duncan counted a total of four gold and three silver medals, most significantly winning the Points Race Final after 50 laps, or 12.5km.

Nicole also momentarily set a national record in the Individual Pursuit with 2:32.997, only for ACT cyclist Lauren Bates to re-set the record with 2:29.925.

As well as this, Nicole found gold in the Scratch Race Final with Liliya falling into second place.

“The first 15 laps of the race were at a very fast and intense pace with lots of attacks coming from the endurance riders,” Nicole said.

“During those laps I was trying to stay out of trouble and ride smart, but once the pace slowed, I saw that the other girls were in just as much pain as I was, and I knew I had a chance.

“With two laps to go I could see the other riders getting in position to sprint, so with 300 metres to go I attacked hard and gave it all I had.

“(In the end) it was NSW 1 2 3 (with Ebony Robinson from Bathurst Cycling Club in third), which made me happy and proud to be part of an amazing JW17 team.”

This result was reversed in the Keirin Final, with Liliya taking out gold in 35.769 seconds and Nicole taking silver, only 0.63 seconds behind.

Liliya also set a new personal best and national record time of 35.768 seconds in the 500 metre Time Trial, overcoming a longstanding record since 2014.

“At State Championships, I was 0.4 seconds off the record, so it seemed to be a bit out of reach even though I really wanted it,” Liliya said.

“Rolling around before the start I was just thinking in my head: ‘35.87. 35.87. 35.87’, which would’ve been 0.01 seconds under the record. 

“When I looked up at the score board once I had finished my race I was in shock, disbelief, I didn’t know I was going that fast.”

By the end of the Sunday March 27, Liliya had five gold and one silver medal.

For these three cyclists, it has been a long road to the National Champs, one paved with many accolades from many competitions picked up along the way.

With the Track season now at a close, attention turns to the upcoming road racing season soon to begin, with a well-earned break to be enjoyed in-between.

Haakon Barry