Ireland have set another national record in the women’s team pursuit on Thursday, February 23rd, at the UCI Tissot Nations Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The team of Mia Griffin, Lara Gillespie, Alice Sharpe and Kelly Murphy blew over two seconds off the previous record set at the UEC Track European Championships just earlier this month.
Competing in the women’s team pursuit qualifying this morning, the time of 4.17.525 saw them eclipse the previous record by a huge margin of 2.180 seconds.
The quartet were fast out of the blocks at the Jakarta International Velodrome and set a national record pace throughout the effort, finishing much faster than their previous record.
That record of 4.19.705 was set at the UEC Track European Championships in Grenchen, Switzerland, on February 9th, as they recorded a fifth placed finish.
Ireland needed to finish in the top eight of fourteen nations in qualifying for the first round, and the time will see them compete amongst the world’s best after finishing in fifth place.
They will be paired with eighth-placed Italy in Friday’s first round and will need to set a top four time to race for medals in the finals, which take place on Friday afternoon.
* All new national records are provisional and subject to formal ratification by Cycling Ireland.
Ireland Schedule – Friday, February 24th
Women’s Team Pursuit – First Round (6.30am Irish Time)
Women’s Elimination Race – Mia Griffin (12.49pm Irish Time)
