Cambridge teenager Lily Greenough completed an outstanding debut season in under-23 UCI BMX Racing with a podium finish for the season-long championship that was finalised in Argentina today.
Greenough, who won the under-23 women’s world title in Denmark last month, refocussed after a break in international racing, to finish runner-up in the season-long championship following the final double-round at Santiago Del Estero today.
The 17-year-old ventured into the under-23 division for the first time earlier this season with two double-rounds in Europe leading to the world championship success.
Greenough, without international competition for two months, finished second to the Dutch rider Michelle Wissing in the round five final on Saturday with the pair lining up together again for today’s round six final.
Both had their challenges in the final, with the New Zealand rider finishing sixth but with sufficient points to claim second place overall for the season.
Today’s finals did not go to script for the other kiwis in Argentina, with Greenough’s older brother Bennett injuring his wrist in a crash on the first day.
National champion Rico Bearman, who won his opening qualifying heat on day one, grabbed the final spot for the semifinal where he could only manage sixth to miss out on the final.
Bearman was in form on the final day, fourth fastest of all riders in heats, second in his quarterfinal to advance and third in the semifinal.However the kiwi made an uncharacteristic mistake from the blocks in the final and from that point did well to finish fifth, and was ultimately fifth overall in the season points.
Rotorua’s Megan Williams missed the final on both days by narrow margins, finishing 15th overall for the season in elite women’s competition with compatriot Leila Walker 11th overall, although she did not travel to Argentina.
