Commonwealth Games Day 4: Glaetzer, Morton, Cure bring Australia more gold

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Australia finished the track cycling events on Sunday at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia, the same way they started on Thursday - winning three gold medals. This gave the host team a total of ten gold medals out of 16 that were awarded over four days of competition.

Australia's Stephanie Morton took her third title of the Games in the women's Keirin, which is appearing for the first time at the Commonwealth Games. Morton finished ahead of team mate Kaarle McCulloch, who had won gold the day before in the 500 metre time trial. Natasha Hansen of New Zealand took third.

Amy Cure followed that up with a second win for the home team in the women's Scratch Race. Unlike the world championships, the Commonwealth Games allow three starters per country, and Australia worked well to control the race and cover any breaks. Cure had finished second to team mate Annette Edmondson at the Glasgow Games, but went to the front for the last lap and a half to win ahead of Neah Evans (Scotland) and Emily Kay (England).

"It was amazing," said Cure. "I was a bit disappointed yesterday [finishing seventh in the Points Race] but I came out with a different mindset. The girls backed me and gave me the perfect ride. I can't thank the girls enough. We went with a plan and executed it perfectly."

The third Australian gold of the night went to Matt Glaetzer in the men's Kilo, who was looking for redemption after a stunning early exit in the Sprint the night before. Ed Dawkins of New Zealand set the early fast time of 59.928 seconds, breaking the Games record in the process. No other rider could go below one minute until Glaetzer, the final riders, who bested Dawkins by 0.588 seconds to tak the Games record even lower. Callum Skinner of Scotland took the bronze medal.

"The whole team got around me; support staff and parents, and a bit of prayer as well to get my headspace in the right area to feel like my best. I was absolutely shattered [after the Sprint]. I knew I needed to come back and rebuild because I knew I had another job to do."

"It was just a matter of staying positive when the negative thoughts come through, just dismissing them straight away and talking positive. If you speak life into the situation then you improve. Yes, I lost the cycle race yesterday and that was gut wrenching but life does go on, the sun rises the next day. I laid it all out there. It was a really high pressure moment when I came out. I prepared for that."

Australia looked ready to sweep the titles on the final day, with the last event the men's Points Race, and Australia's team of three led by the world champion Cameron Meyer. However, Meyer grew increasingly frustrated through the race as Mark Stewart of Scotland, Campbell Stewart of New Zealand and Ethan Hayter of England dogged his every pedal stroke. Meyer usually rides away from his rivals to take laps, seemingly at will. This time, the three riders were with him every time he tried to make a move. Mark Stewart managed to take three laps on the field to Meyer's two, plus outkicked him in the intermediate sprints. The 22 year Scottish rider took a well-deserved win, followed by Campbell Stewart and Hayter, with Meyer completely off the podium in fourth.

"I'm really proud," said Mark Stewart. "That was a lot of hard work and it has come together nicely. I am only 22 but I feel like I have been at this for ages and I feel like I've had a lot of good days and a lot of bad days but this is definitely one of the good days. I think when you ride against someone like Cameron Meyer, you can't play his game. He is the best in the world at what he does. You don't win all the world titles he has by chance. He's the best, so you have to take it to him and put him on the back foot. I think that is why he keeps winning because everyone follows him. But he can follow me."

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