Stephanie Morton says she’s still on track for the world championships despite the crash.
SA CYCLIST Stephanie Morton is confident her world championship preparations remain on course after she escaped from a serious crash with cuts and bruises on the weekend.
The Commonwealth Games gold medallist was well-placed in the women’s keirin final at the national track championships in Brisbane on Sunday when disaster struck.
Morton looked over her shoulder after an attack in the closing stages, but clipped the wheel of a bike in front which had slowed down causing her to fall.
“It happens really quickly and you’re on the floor before you know it,” Morton, 28, recalled of the accident.
“I had two hits to the head — one when I hit the track and the second one when Kaarle McCulloch rode into my head.
“I knew that I had hit my head because it was instantly hurting so I laid still for a second and tried to let the initial blow ware off.”
Stephanie Morton is helped by medical staff after crashing during the keirin final.Source:AAP
Morton was taken to Logan Hospital where head and neck scans cleared her of serious damage.
The three-time national keirin champion was kept in overnight for observations after suffering concussion in the crash.
She was released and flew back to Adelaide on Monday morning.
“I’ve got some skin off and a big bump to my hip and shoulder so I’m feeling a bit bruised and sore,” Morton, of Moana, said.
“But I got the all clear of any major injuries.
“Kaarle came straight over to check on me after the race finished to make sure I was OK.
“It was nothing malicious on anyone’s part and it’s part and parcel of racing keirins.”
Stephanie Morton says she’s still on track for the world championships despite the crash.Source:AAP
The meet had been going well for Morton after she won her first individual national sprint title in four years on Saturday and was a member of the triumphant SA squad in the team sprint last Thursday.
She had hoped to be back on the bike by the end of the week and named in the Australian team for the world track championships in Hong Kong from April 12-16.
“The crash definitely hasn’t put me off racing,” Morton said.
“I’m optimistic that it’s going to clear up pretty quickly — wounds and skin heal.
“I’ll start the recovery process now and try to get myself ready for the worlds pending selection.
“At lot of our base and strength work has been done, so I’m pretty confident I should be OK.”
Meanwhile, SA’s Matthew Glaetzer claimed his second national keirin crown on the weekend and fellow Croweater Pat Constable won the men’s sprint.
Originally published as Morton on track for champs despite crash
Sport | news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site
