Webster's run in sprint ends

Sam Webster bowed out of the men’s sprint at the velodrome today.

The New Zealander, who edged out countryman Eddie Dawkins in the first round, lost his quarter-final race to Denis Dmitriev of Russia by 0.142s and went into the repechage.

There he lost to China’s Chao Xu by 0.048s.

The two New Zealand women in the keirin also failed to progress.

In the first round Natasha Hansen missed out by just 0.01s to Hyejn Lee of Korea. Her countrywoman, Liv Podmore, was unfortunately caught up in an incident and did not finish. “I was tracking the fast wheel and then two riders touched and one went down in front,” Podmore said. “I had nowhere to go. I guess I have earned my Olympic stripes. But Ill be back ready to for for the individual sprint tomorrow.”

The two women went into repechages, where they needed to win to progress. Hansen lost to Laurine van Riessen of the Netherlands by the barest of margins – 0.001s.

“Wow, I thought I had that sprint,” she said. “I just didn’t get the timing perfect, but it was a good ride. I am in good form and it gives me some confidence for the sprint.”

Podmore finished fourth in her repechage.