Carswell gets top NZ track job

BikeNZ has announced Tim Carswell as the new head coach for the New Zealand track program. Carswell represented New Zealand at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games as part of the teams pursuit team and was a double medallist at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

"I am really excited about the position and the challenges ahead," said Carswell. "My first priority will be to ensure communication channels between riders and their support staff are strong so the high performance team can maximise the time between now and the World Championships and Beijing Olympics."

Carswell, who will soon more to Invercargill to fulfil his new position, was the sprint coach at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. He has spent the past three years as New Zealand's National under 19 track programme head coach.

"Having Tim on board as National track coach is exciting for the sport in New Zealand," said BikeNZ Performance Director Mark Elliott. "He has a strong background in the sport and is respected by his peers and by the athletes he works with. Most importantly Tim has the attributes we are looking for to develop a High Performance programme for BikeNZ between now and the 2012 London Olympics."