Vantage New Zealand rider Ellesse Andrews provided a glimpse into the future for women’s sprinting with victory in the keirin on the penultimate night of the Oceania Track Championships at the SIT Zero Fees Velodrome in Invercargill.

Andrews kicked like a mule on the final lap to gap a field which included top Australians Stephanie Morton and Kaarle McCulloch and New Zealand’s sprint flagbearer Natasha Hansen.

It was a Kiwi clean sweep, with Olivia Podmore taking the silver medal and Hansen claiming bronze.

“I had a bit left in the tank and I was going to use it all,” Andrews said.

“It feels a bit surreal - there were some amazing girls and my great teammates in that race and I’m so happy to come out on top. I just go out there, enjoy the race and do what I can and today I came out with a good result.

“This time last year I was an endurance rider and this is my first big event as a sprinter and I am so happy to get a good result.”

It was not the end of the top performances for the Vantage New Zealand female riders tonight.

New Zealand champion Kirstie James overcame Australian Maeve Plouffe in the final of the elite women’s 3000m individual pursuit, after Plouffe had qualified half a second faster in the morning session.

“I tried to ride a bit conservatively this morning but I got caught by surprise by the Aussie girl having a big improvement,” James said.

“I had to change my plan halfway through the morning ride, which was really challenging. Tonight I just went out on a bigger gear and a faster schedule and tried to get as close as I could to my PB power."

James, a two-time world championship bronze medallist in the team pursuit, wasn’t sure how her legs would carry her in Invercargill this week, so was pleased to bank an Oceania title.

“I’ve had a pretty rough last two or three months of training, just dealing with a lot more fatigue than I’m used to. I wasn’t really sure where I was at with my form coming into this competition.”

Originally from Auckland, and these days based out of the Avantidrome in Cambridge, James continues to represent Southland at national level after starting her cycling career in Invercargill and was relishing the chance to race at ‘home’.

“It’s been so awesome racing here in Invercargill, because this is really where it all started for me. I saw some of the masters riders yesterday and they said ‘remember when we used to beat you?’. They really supported me and still do - lending me equipment, helping me get to races. I’m so grateful and proud to race for Southland.”

Southland’s Nick Kergozou, another rider from the Vantage New Zealand team, was pressured into a fast finish in front of his home crowd in the elite men’s 1000m time trial, coming from fourth place after the first lap.

Coming off a big couple of days of racing and a recent road race, Kergozou was hoping to break the 60sec barrier, but found himself in a scrap instead.

“I’m happy with the result, but it wasn’t the time I wanted. I was a bit nervous going into the final lap to hear I was still in second place so I really had to put my head down and push it to the line.”

Top qualifier Conor Leahy took out the elite men’s 4000m individual pursuit, with the Western Australian fending off New Zealand’s Jordan Kerby in the final, and Canterbury's Josh Scott taking bronze.

Leahy produced a personal best in his qualifying ride and took confidence into the final.

“I always tend to back up pretty hard, so I had good confidence that I could put it to Kerbs - he’s a renowned IP rider, so I knew I had a good challenge ahead of me, but I just went out hard and tried to stick to as good a time as possible.”

The in-form Australian Amy Cure continued her outstanding form with an emphatic victory in the women's 20km points race from Vantage New Zealand rider Jesse Hodges, while the men's 30km points race was a triumph for home town rider Corbin Strong who edged out fellow Vantage New Zealand star Regan Gough after the pair lapped the field.

In the junior racing, Southland’s Rhylee Akeroyd was a popular winner, claiming the Oceania title on the final lap of the under 19 women’s omnium points race.

Junior world omnium champion Laurence Pithie produced a standout display, lapping the field during the points race decider to comfortably add the Oceania junior omnium title to his resume.

Cantabrian Jenna Borthwick added the junior women’s keirin title to the 2000m individual pursuit and team pursuit titles she won earlier in the championships.

The Oceania Track Championships, which has attracted 180 riders from Australia and New Zealand, conclude on Saturday with the women’s sprint for elite and junior, men’s keirin for elite and junior, and men and women in the elite Madison.