Botha breaks Ulmer’s iconic individual pursuit track cycling record
Cycling New Zealand’s most endearing and enduring track records has fallen, with Bryony Botha eclipsing the iconic individual pursuit mark set by Sarah Ulmer 18 years ago.
While Ulmer set a world record (and NZ Record) for the 3000m individual pursuit of 3:24:537 under the glare of the Olympic final in Athens, Botha edged under that mark in a near-empty covid-restricted Grassroots Trust Velodrome in Cambridge at the Waikato-Auckland Championships at the weekend.
Botha, outstanding at the Tokyo Olympics in the team pursuit, made a rare appearance in the individual pursuit, clocking 3:24:256 to establish the new national record.
“I texted Brendon Cameron and said sorry but I have broken Sarah’s record and he came back to congratulate me. Sarah also messaged me to say “Congratulations. You must be so excited. Here’s to this just being the start of a few more breaks.”
Coach Ross Machejefski had suggested to Botha that she target the mark at next month’s national championships, but she was disappointed with her performance at the Criterium National Championships in Christchurch earlier this month.
“Usually when I do an IP (individual pursuit) I just target what I think I can manage. I had entered the Waikato Auckland Champs and decided to give the record a go, and really push the boat out as much as possible because there was nothing at stake. If it didn’t happen then I knew there was still a month to nationals.”
She started conservatively and thought the record was out of reach, but steadily increased her lap times and held the record pace, finishing with her fastest lap to break the mark.
“I thought Oh my god. I’ve done it. I don’t think anyone realised it was a record, especially with no crowds there. It was super low-key. And no-one actually knew the exact time of Sarah’s record. It was not until I called my father and he confirmed it was a record.
“It is cool and good for the women’s endurance programme. It was bound to happen at some stage, and I am just glad I was the one to do it.
“It makes me happy to know that my training and everything that Ross and I are doing is working.”
Botha will target a top performance at the nationals but has higher goals in her sights.
“If I keep doing what I am doing with Ross, then I think I can knock a couple seconds off it and aim to medal at the Commonwealth Games and World Championships.”
FOR THE RECORD
- New Zealand women track cyclists have won 15 World Championships medals with five of them in the 3000m Individual Pursuit, equal most with the Team Pursuit. Madonna Harris won silver in Japan in 1990; Ulmer won gold in Melbourne in 2004 with Ali Shanks claiming three medals – gold in Poland in 2009, silver in Netherlands in 2011 and gold in Melbourne in 2012.
- Sarah Ulmer set a world record of 3:30.604 in winning the world championship gold in 2004, lowered the world mark in qualifying at Athens to 3:26.400 and again in the final to 3:24.537 which was not broken until 2010 by American Sarah Hammer at altitude. Another American Chloe Dygert holds the current record at 3:16.937.
- Alison Shanks set a new best time by a New Zealander at the world championships when she clocked 3:27.268 in winning at Melbourne in 2012.