Medals on Wheels

Dunedin cyclist Alison Shanks, 26, claimed New Zealand’s first gold medal in the women’s 3m individual pursuit final at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi earning glory over the strong Australian team. The 29 world champion met fierce rival Wendy Houvenaghel of Northern Ireland in the race for gold and after overcoming a slow start never looked like losing. Shanks was New Zealand’s first gold in the women’s individual pursuit since Sarah Ulmer’s success in Manchester eight years ago. “It’s been a long few days watching my team-mates performing and finally race day came along,” Shanks said. “It feels fantastic to have put out a good performance and come away with the gold.” Other medals won so far at the Games include silver for Jesse Sergent in the final of the men’s individual pursuit; silver in the women’s point race, won by cyclist Lauren Ellis; silver for Joanne Kiesanowski in the women’s cycling scratch final; and silver in swimming for the women’s 4 x 2m freestyle relay.