BMX cyclist Tanya Bailey reached the elite women`s semi-finals at the world championships, which should be enough to secure Australia two starting places at the Olympic Games.Australia needed points from the event to secure two spots in Beijing and Bailey was under extreme pressure, being the only representative for her country in the field.
A major knee injury during training put Melissa Mankowski out of the team and out of contention for Olympic selection, while Nicole Callisto suffered an elbow fracture on Friday and was also forced to withdraw.
“The pressure was on (Bailey) because we had one rider to earn points and other countries had three to start with,`` said Scott Sharples, Cycling Australia`s national performance director for BMX.
“However her racing was really good and by getting into the semi-finals I think she`s done enough to give us the two places but we`ll have to wait for confirmation from the UCI (International Cycling Union).``
Beijing-bound Jared Graves was the best-placed of Australia`s elite men and the only one to make it through to the final, where he finished seventh.
“I won my eighth, my quarter and my semi-final and was really feeling good for the win,`` said Graves.
“But it pretty much came down to who came over the first jump smoothest and I really didn`t do it.
“Then I was annihilated in the first corner by guys going for broke which stopped my run but I`m still pretty happy with that,`` added the 25-year-old, who ends the BMX season ranked No.2 in the world behind American Donny Robinson.
“My strength is really good and I`m definitely capable of getting to the front of any race in the world so I`ll keep that in mind when I`m training for Beijing.``
While Beijing might be just around the corner, the junior members of the Australian team are already planning their London assault for the 2012 Olympic Games.
South Australian Sam Willoughby snared gold in the junior men`s final, while compatriots Lauren Reynolds claimed silver and Rachael Bracken bronze in the junior women`s final.
AAP
