Sunday, 4 February 2018: Joshua Harrison was made to wait for his first individual track nationals gold but hopes to have a second inside two days after Sunday's points race.
Embed from Getty ImagesJoshua Harrison was made to wait five years for his first solo national track title, but the new scratch champion now has a chance to win two inside 24 hours.
The South Australian held off world champions Jordan Kerby, Leigh Howard and Rohan Wight in the brutal final laps to win the 15km scratch title on Saturday night in Brisbane.
He set the pace in the last 30 laps and was able to find enough speed to hold off the pack in a five-man sprint to the line.
The 22-year-old had previously won two team golds and debuted in the senior ranks with an individual bronze in 2014.
After Saturday's gutsy result went his way, a patient Harrison now faces the prospect of finishing the Brisbane meet with two solo titles if he can finish with a flurry in Sunday's 40km points race.
"I've been trying for so long to get one by myself so to pull it off, I'm so happy," he said.
"I didn't expect it to be that long (in front); I had a plan to go out in the last 20km, I guess I went a bit early but held it until the end.
"I had a few very dangerous riders coming along so I didn't want to leave the front; I needed to be in the top three the entire time."
Last year he finished second in the 160-lap points event to Cameron Meyer, who has missed the meet at the Anna Meares Velodrome to take race in the Herald Sun Tour.
"Hopefully the same; I'm looking forward to it," Harrison said when asked what he expected on Sunday.
"I can't have a challenge against him (Meyer), but I'll give it a crack anyway."
Sunday's fourth and last day also features finals of the men's and women's keirin.
