Carswell betters world’s best time in individual pursuit at Avantidrome

Jack Carswell in action at the Vantage Age Group Track National Championships at the Avantidrome in March. Photo: Geoff Dickinson.

Waikato cyclist Jack Carswell has recorded a world’s best time for an under-17 rider in the individual pursuit during a special trial at the Avantidrome Cambridge on Saturday 21 September.

The 15-year-old Cambridge High School student recorded a blistering time of 2.13.326 for the 2000m test which edged the previous mark set by Canada’s Dylan Bibic of 2:13.579 earlier this year.

It also broke Carswell’s own New Zealand record of 2:14.214 that he set in winning the under-17 title at the Vantage Age Nationals in Cambridge in March.

It capped a string of notable results for Carswell in recent weeks, winning the overall title in the Cycling New Zealand National Track Series, the New Zealand schools criterium title and breaking the long standing individual time trial record at the Northern Tour set by national champion James Fouche, now a professional rider for Team Wiggins.

“I had wanted to break the world mark after coming so close in March at the National Champs. This was my last chance as I move up to the Under 19 ranks in just over a week, so I am stoked,” said Carswell.

This is his last year as an under-17 rider but as the upcoming Oceania event is classed as the 2020 championships, then Carswell will need to race up in the under-19 competition.

Carswell, who is a member of the WBOP Grassroots Trust Performance Hub and has recently signed for top domestic road team Skoda Fruzio, has had a stunning year setting four national records, winning six national titles on the road and track and winning four races in a row in Europe in June.

“My next big target is the Oceania Championships in October. We have a super strong team and I’m looking forward to going head to head with the best Aussies. I’m hoping a strong performance there will put me in the frame for Junior World track team selection in 2020.”

Carswell comes from outstanding cycling pedigree with both mother Fiona and father Tim former Olympic cyclists.

Also showing great form on a record-breaking night were Masters riders Julie Graddon and Penny Pawson who broke national records as they prepare for next month’s UCI World Masters Championships in Manchester.

Graddon (Te Awamutu) clocked 40.245 in the 500m time trial in the 55-59 years age category to better her own national record of 41.261 set on March.
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Pawson (Auckland, a former national representative, clocked 2:31.596 in the 2000m individual pursuit to improve her New Zealand record of 2:32.321 in the 45-49 years category.