Hammer in strong medal position after first day of women's omnium

  
  


Sarah Hammer recorded a second-place finish and a pair of fifth-place results in the first three events of the women's omnium. (Photo by Casey Gibson)
Sarah Hammer recorded a second-place finish and a pair of fifth-place results in the first three events of the women's omnium. (Photo by Casey Gibson)
The women on Monday contested the first three events of the six-race women’s omnium at the Olympic Velodrome and Sarah Hammer (Temecula, Calif./OUCH Pro Cycling) is sitting in second place. The omnium, which spans two days, tests riders in the flying lap, points race, elimination race, individual pursuit, scratch race and time trial.

After the first three contests, Hammer and Laura Trott (GBR) have 12 points apiece. Trott holds the lead as she has recorded a pair of wins (flying lap and elimination race) while Hammer placed second in the elimination race and fifth in the flying lap and points race.

“I'll take it one race at a time,” Hammer said. “Today, everything worked out well. I'm very happy with the way I executed being focused on each and every start. The way the omnium works is you only can think of what the next race is. As of right now, I'm just thinking about that individual pursuit tomorrow morning.”


Hammer, who earned the bronze medal in the women's omnium at the 2011-12 UCI Track World Championships in Melbourne, Australia in April, opened the competition placing fifth in the flying lap with a time of 14.369. Her time is a slight improvement from the 14.433 she registered in Melbourne. Trott took the top spot in the flying lap with a time of 14.057, one-thousandth of a second ahead of Clara Sanchez (FRA).

Sarah Hammer finished second in the elimination race on Monday. (Photo by Casey Gibson)
Sarah Hammer finished second in the elimination race on Monday. (Photo by Casey Gibson)
In the 20-kilometer points race, Hammer did her damage about midway through the race. As the lap counter showed 50 laps remaining in the race, Hammer popped off the front of the field and opened a large margin. Before long, Tara Whitten (CAN) and Joanne Kiesanowski (NZL) joined her and that trio worked together to lap the field and earn 20 points apiece. Hammer won the sprint to the line with 30 laps remaining in the race to collect five more points, allowing her to place fifth in that contest with 25 points.

Hammer then finished second to Trott in the elimination race to conclude the day’s competition. She cruised around the track, comfortably in the field as riders were eliminated on every other lap. With five riders remaining, Hammer narrowly avoided elimination by winning a sprint over Kirsten Wild (NED). After Evgeniya Romanyuta (RUS) and Annette Edmondson (AUS) were eliminated, the race turned into a showdown between Trott and Hammer. On the first turn, Hammer kicked and opened a gap on Trott, but the British rider overtook Hammer on the back straightaway and held on to win the race.

Coming Up
Track competition concludes Tuesday for USA Cycling with the last three events of the women’s omnium as Hammer will compete in the individual pursuit, scratch race and the time trial on Tuesday.

The track events will be streamed live on www.nbcolympics.com with television coverage slated on your local NBC station. For more information on cycling at the Olympic Games, visit www.usacycling.org/olympics.

WOMEN'S OMNIUM STANDINGS | PHOTO GALLERY

Women's Omnium Standings (after three races)
1. Laura Trott (GBR) 12
2. Sarah Hammer (Temecula, Calif./OUCH Pro Cycling) 12
3. Annette Edmondson (AUS) 17
4. Tara Whitten (CAN) 18
5. Jolien D’Hoore (BEL) 20

Women's Omnium-Flying Lap
1. Laura Trott (GBR) 14.057
2. Clara Sanchez (FRA) 14.058
3. Annette Edmondson (AUS) 14.261
4. Kirsten Wild (NED) 14.335
5. Sarah Hammer (Temecula, Calif./OUCH Pro Cycling) 14.369

Women's Omnium-Points Race
1. Malgorzata Wojtyra (POL) 34
2. Tatsiana Sharakova (BLR) 28
3. Tara Whitten (CAN) 28
4. Jolien D’Hoore (BEL) 25
5. Sarah Hammer (Temecula, Calif./OUCH Pro Cycling) 25

Women's Omnium-Elimination Race
1. Laura Trott (GBR)
2. Sarah Hammer (Temecula, Calif./OUCH Pro Cycling)
3. Annette Edmondson (AUS)



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This Article Updated August 7, 2012 @ 03:55 AM For more information contact: