Morton sisters make history at road cycling nationals

The Morton sisters, Abigail (left) and Ella after winning their respective road race titles.

Baradene College sisters Abigail and Ella Morton made history at the Cycling New Zealand Schools National Road Championships as the first sisters to win gold in their respective age groups, on the same day at Loburn, North Canterbury.

It was a memorable day for the Morton family with sisters Abigail and Ella taking out the Under 20 girls and Under 15 girls titles.

“It was a surreal feeling crossing the finish line knowing I came first,” Ella said after the race. “Knowing that me and my sister were able to make history at nationals was an absolutely incredible experience.”

“It was a special moment,” added Abigail, “especially as this was our last opportunity to race at school nationals together.”

Abigail out-sprinted Jorja Swain (Whangarei Girls' High School) for the line, while last year’s Under 17 girls winner McKenzie Milne (Waikato Diocesan) finished third, 12 seconds back. In the Under 15 race, Ella also took out the sprint for the line ahead of James Hargest College's Jasmine McLeod and fellow Baradene rider Lydia Stevens.

The 51st edition of the national school road championships has drawn 601 riders from 100 schools for the three-day competition. It began on Saturday with a team time trial, with the individual road race today and a points race to be held on Monday.

The ability of the riders was tested early on with crashes around 7km into the 17.3km in all four Under 13 and Under 14 races. The wind also played its part in producing some surprising results, with some age group’s catching the race ahead, and most races ending in a bunch sprint for the line up the 700m home stretch.

In the Under 20 boys race, recently crowned Junior Track World Champion Corbin Strong (Southland Boys' High School) won the sprint for the finish ahead of last year’s winner Madi Hartley-Brown (Palmerston North Boys' High School) and Callum Walsh (Saint Kentigern College).

St Kentigern’s Jensen Foster won the Under 17 boys in 52:35 in a race that again finished in a bunch sprint for the line. Michael Redmond (Palmerston North Boys) and Oliver Simcock-Smith (Auckland Grammar) were second and third across the line respectively.

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U16 girls winner, Rangi Ruru's Charlotte Spurway.

Local riders Ryan MacLeod (Papanui High School) and Charlotte Spurway (Rangi Ruru) won the Under 16 boys and girls titles ahead of their north island rivals.

Roncalli’s Jaxson Whyte took the Under 15 title, Maui Morrison (Cambridge High) the Under 14 and Frankie Wright (St Peter's, Cambridge) the Under 13 race.

Ruby Spring (Saint Kentigern) won the Under 14 girls title ahead of Auckland rivals as did Caitlin Kelly (Verdon College) who claimed the Under 13 race.

The last race of the three-day event, a points race, will take place at Mike Pero Motorsport Park tomorrow.

Results:

Boys:

Under 13: Frankie Wright (St Peters School Cambridge) 34:58, 1; Kane Foster (St Peters School Cambridge) same time, 2; Jack Whittall (Cambridge Middle School) st, 3.

Under 14: Maui Morrison (Cambridge High School) 31:35, 1; Marshall Erwood (James Hargest) at 1sec, 2; Hamish Banks (St Peters School Cambridge) 2s, 3.

Under 15: Jaxson Whyte (Roncalli) 29:16, 1; Redmond Connolly (Sacred Heart Auckland) same time, 2; Lewis Bower (Westlake Boys) at 1s, 3.

Under 16: Ryan MacLeod (Papanui) 52:53, 1; Marcus Bycroft (Westlake Boys) at 1s, 2; Jack Carswell (St Peters School Cambridge) at 12s, 3.

Under 17: Jensen Foster (Saint Kentigern) 52:35, 1; Michael Redmond (Palmerston North Boys) same time, 2; Oliver Simcock-Smith (Auckland Grammar) st, 3.

Under 20: Corbin Strong (Southland Boys) 01:10:47, 1; Madi Hartley-Brown (Palmerston North Boys) same time 2; Callum Walsh (St Kentigern) st 3.

Girls:

Under 13: Caitlin Kelly (Verdon) 36:59, 1; Sophia Hyland (Baradene) at 1s, 2; Isabelle Gibson (Baradene) at 2s, 3.
Under 14: Ruby Spring (Saint Kentigern) 33:50, 1; Maia Barclay (Epsom Girls Grammar) same time 2; Emma Blackmore (Baradene) at 1s, 3.

Under 15: Ella Morton (Baradene) 31:02, 1; Jasmine McLeod (James Hargest) same time 2; Lydia Stevens (Baradene) at 1s, 3.

Under 16: Charlotte Spurway (Rangi Ruru) 01:00:21, 1; Prudence Fowler (Diocesan School) same time 2; Emma Hannan (St Kentigern) st 3.

Under 17: Maddi Douglas (Cambridge High) 53:42, 1; Megan Spring (Waikato Diocesan) same time 2; Henrietta Christie (Lincoln) st 3.
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Under 20: Abigail Morton (Baradene) 01:00:15, 1; Jorja Swain (Whangarei Girls) at 1s, 2; McKenzie Milne (Waikato Diocesan) at 12sec, 3.

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