The fastest 200m in Australia: More records broken at Anna Meares Velodrome

Leigh Hoffman and Alessia McCaig lit up the Anna Meares Velodrome, both breaking National Championship records in the elite sprint qualifying in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Hoffman spearheaded a trio of South Australian riders to lead qualifying for the blue-riband event, his 9.321 the fastest flying 200m ever ridden on Australian soil.

Teammates James Brister and newly crowned two-time 1000m time trial national champion Tayte Ryan qualified in the top three.

Hoffman posted the fastest 200m ever ridden in Australia.

“After the World Cup in Perth, I was recovering and trying to reset for this week,” Hoffman said. 

“I’m pretty stoked with the all-comers record set in Australia, it was good to rub Richo’s [Matthew Richardson] record out that he set in Perth. 

“Now I have the Oceania and the National Championship record. Hopefully this season, we can get some more records. 

“The top four riders are all top-notch, so I’ll really have to lock in tomorrow.”

Victoria’s McCaig also broke the women’s championship record with a 10.644 ahead of a strong field including Queensland’s Deneaka Blinco and Western Australia’s Liliya Tatarinoff.   

The 22-year-old from Bendigo was pleased with her qualification, considering she is still in a heavy training block. 

McCaig's championship record was also a personal best.

“I’m really happy with the record,” McCaig said. 

“The time is a personal best, but to get the record on top of that is pretty amazing. I’m feeling pretty good, still training through this competition and I’m happy with how the legs are sitting.”

Queensland dominated the men’s elite team pursuit final, cementing their dominance by setting a championship record in the process with victory over Victoria. 

The team of Noah Blannin, Rohan Haydon-Smith, Blake Quick and Liam Walsh caught Victoria before posting 3:55.27 on their home track. Toby Jones, the fifth member of the squad, joined his teammates on the podium after riding qualifying.

Queensland set a new National Championship record in the men's team pursuit.

The records set last night came after Conor Leahy and Sophie Edwards broke the men's and women's national records respectively in the individual pursuit.

Paralympic and world champion Korey Boddington took out the Para cycling elimination race, his third title of the championship. The Brisbane Cycling Festival ambassador held off men's C2 champion Darren Hicks (SA) and C2 silver medallist Gordon Allan (NSW) to claim an overall victory.

Boddington is no stranger to the top step of the podium.

The Glasgow Commonwealth Games was a hot talking point throughout the day, with every ride a chance to impress selectors as the Australian team gears for a big performance at the Games.

The elite sprint medals will be decided tonight, along with the first elite bunch races: the women's elimination and the men's points race.

The Brisbane Cycling Festival is proudly supported by Brisbane City Council through Brisbane Economic Development Agency and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland. 

Photos: Con Chronis