Manchester, UK – Anna Morris continued her historic run in the world of cycling, breaking her own world record for the third time in a week during the National Track Championships on Saturday evening. The world and European champion posted an impressive time of 4:24.060 in the 4,000m individual pursuit, further solidifying her dominance in the event.
This latest achievement adds another title to her growing collection, as she previously broke the record twice in a single day during last week’s European Championships. “I didn’t know how much I had in me,” Morris admitted after the race. “I’ve been racing heavily over the last two weeks, so I wasn’t sure how much I could give. But racing on a home track, with the crowd cheering me on, really pushed me to dig deep.”
The 29-year-old managed to catch and pass her opponent, Lidl Trek’s Izzy Sharp, with over a kilometer to go in the final. Morris pushed through the pain during the final laps, attributing her strength to the supportive crowd that urged her on. “The last four laps were tough, but the crowd helped me get across the line,” she said.
In a surprising twist, the velodrome’s food kiosk sold fruit pastille lollies, a curious choice for the time of year. The warmer indoor temperature, however, was likely a deliberate attempt to optimize racing conditions. “I didn’t know they had turned the heat up,” Morris said with a laugh. “But I think the record will keep falling this year. There’s a lot of talent chasing it, and it’s great for women’s sport to see a new event gain popularity.”
Meanwhile, the Manchester Velodrome was alive with energy, with Snow Patrol performing just a short distance away at the Co-op Live Arena. Back on the track, the keirin final saw a thrilling victory for Lauren Bell, who pulled off a daring attack to claim the title. Bell, who started on the front, attacked as the derny pulled away, successfully holding off Olympic champion Emma Finucane in the final laps. “I’d rather lose having tried something than just follow the pack,” Bell said. “The pain was definitely worth it.”
In the men’s points race, defending champion Will Perrett earned his third consecutive victory, but it wasn’t without a fight. 17-year-old Henry Hobbs pushed Perrett to the limit, narrowly missing the title by just one point. “I knew it was going to be a challenge, and I couldn’t take laps for granted,” Perrett remarked. “It was a real battle, and I had to go solo for long stretches to secure the win.”
Matthew Richardson claimed his second national title in as many days, winning the team sprint alongside Niall Monks, Lyall Craig, and Harry Ledingham Horn. In the para-cycling events, 20-year-old Archie Atkinson added the C4 individual pursuit title to his victory in the kilometre time trial, successfully lapping his opponent three times in the final.
Sophie Unwin and her pilot, Jenny Holl, secured another national title in the tandem kilometre time trial, extending their impressive tally of four national titles and two Paralympic golds. James Ball and Steffan Lloyd took the men’s title.
Other notable victories included Amelia Cass, Morgan Newberry, Matthew Robertson, Fin Graham, and Xavier Disley, who each claimed C-class individual pursuit titles. Disley, in a thrilling finish, won his C5 event by just one second after a late surge.
As the National Track Championships enter their final day, the competition remains fierce, with cyclists continuing to push the limits of speed and endurance. The event will conclude on Sunday afternoon, with more thrilling races to come.
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