Killeen secures gold for England
23 March 2006 |
By billy1979
Liam Killeen produced a stunning comeback to lead home team-mate Oli Beckingsale in an England one-two in the Commonwealth Games mountain biking. In the women's event, Bolton teenager Amy Hunt took an incredible fourth.
The 23-year-old, who won bronze in Manchester four years ago, struggled in the early part of the race, after a frantic start, falling 90 seconds behind Aussie leader Chris Jongewaard. The chasing group then reeled him back in on the final lap of eight. A ding-dong battle got underway between the two English riders. Eventually, Killeen nipped away after darting up the inside line around a rock garden hairpin. Liam had time to grab a St George's flag and hold it aloft as he crossed the line.
"It's a pretty special feeling and it hasn't completely sunk in yet," said Killeen. "I'm happy I've come here and achieved what I set out to do. I stuck to my plan today. I was aiming for gold throughout."
In the women's race, England's Amy Hunt finished fourth more than six minutes behind race winner Canada's Marie-Helene Premont. The 19-year-old's result was remarkable considering she had only travelled to Melbourne for the women's road race on Sunday.
"It was just to see how I'd get on because I haven't got a particular discipline as well as the road and it was too good an opportunity to miss," she said.