Caroline Ryan set a new personal best and new Irish record for the women’s individual pursuit on the final day of the 2012 world track championships in Melbourne today.
The Kildare woman, who secured the first Irish medal at track worlds in over a hundred years when she was third in the points race last Thursday, had been hoping to finish on the podium or as close to it as possible.
Her qualification time of 3 minutes 34.515 today was almost exactly ten seconds ahead of the 3 minutes 44.264 she clocked up last year, but in this Olympic year the other competitors were also quicker.
She consequently finished ninth for the second year in succession, but can be pleased by the considerable time gains she has made over the past twelve months.
New Zealand’s Alison Shanks was quickest in qualifying with her time of three minutes 27.268, over half a second faster than the three minutes 27.842 of the Briton Wendy Houvenaghel.
Shanks went on to win their final clash, while Ashlee Ankudinoff (Australia) beat Amy Cure (Australia) in the fight-off for bronze.
Ryan’s event completes an impressive Irish campaign at the track worlds. In addition to her bronze medal, Martyn Irvine finished seventh in the Omnium and secured his place in the London Olympics.
Irish based Australian Shannon McCurley was also in action, netting twelfth in the women’s scratch race on Friday.
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World track championship individual pursuit:
For gold:
1, Alison Shanks (New Zealand) 3 mins 30.199
2, Wendy Houvenaghel (Great Britain) 3 mins 32.340
For bronze:
1, Ashlee Ankudinoff (Australia) 3 mins 33.593
2, Amy Cure (Australia) 3 mins 33.642
Qualifying:
1, Alison Shanks (New Zealand) 3 mins 27.268
2, Wendy Houvenaghel (Great Britain) 3 mins 27.842
3, Amy Cure (Australia) 3 mins 28.474
4, Ashlee Ankudinoff (Australia) 3 mins 28.869
5, Tara Whitten (Canada) 3 mins 30.407
6, Joanna Rowsell (Great Britain) 3 mins 31.187
7, Vilija Sereikaite (Lithuania) 3 mins 33.612
8, Elizaveta Bochkareva (Ukraine) 3 mins 34.471
9, Caroline Ryan (Ireland) 3 mins 34.515