Australian National Track Championships 2008

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Former Olympic short track speed skater, Emily Rosemond, posted a world class time to anchor Queensland to the gold medal in the women's team sprint at the Championships, held at Sydney's Dunc Gray Velodrome.

Rosemond, 21, rode second wheel behind Kerrie Meares, who has won gold in the event every year since it's introduction in 2002. On four of those occasions she was teamed with her sister Anna. But with Anna sidelined due to injuries sustained in a crash at the recent Los Angeles World Cup, Rosemond stepped up for her first Australian Championships event and posted two sub-15 second rides to ensure Queensland's unbroken run of team sprint success.

Rosemond's lap times are comparable to those ridden by the top five second wheel riders at last year's World Championships and mark her as a cyclist to watch.

"I am just speechless," said the 21 year old who has been track cycling for just six months. "This is just great, I didn't expect this, its beyond my wildest dreams and it's just an honour to ride with Kerrie."

Meares was more than happy to lead out the emerging speedster who at the Torino Winter Olympic Games in 2006 skated through to the quarter finals in the 1000m event.

"All credit to Emily, I mean that ride was amazing," said Meares after the final in which the Queenslander's rode 34.797sec to defeat the New South Wales pair of Kaarle McCulloch and Cassandra Kell (35.098sec). The bronze medal was won by South Australian U19 riders Annette Edmondson and Stephanie Morton in a time of 36.330sec.

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