Vaughn Phang, president of the Jamaica Cycling Federation (JCF), believes Oneil Samuels' unprece-dented success last Sunday is testimony to the successful plan that the federation has drafted.

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"It was a very good competition, we believe. We had a good crop of riders," Phang told the Observer. "We see where our training has paid off in Oneil Samuels," he added.
At the National Cycling Track Championship staged at the National Stadium Velodrome over two days, Samuels captured a record four titles to highlight the meet.

On Saturday, Samuels won his pet event, the Scratch Finals, before winning the 1km Time Trial, the Individual Pursuit and the Match Sprint titles on Sunday's final day.

Albeit it against lesser likes, Samuels' record feat places him in a lone category above some of Jamaica's better-known riders of the past.
The only title to elude the 23 year-old rider from Portland was the 60-lap Points Race, won by 18-year-old Alden Clunis - another local rider on the rise.

The very strong and aggressive Clunis took control of the race with 26 laps to go, lapping the field twice to finish with 87 points.
In the 1km Time Trial, the Portlander clocked a decent 1:16.11 seconds ahead Marloe Rodman, another 18 year-old rising talent, and Linford Blackwood.

"It has been one of best years in the last five years," claimed Phang, with one more race remaining on the cycling calendar.
For this year, Phang disclosed, the federation registered 100 new riders, another positive for the local governing body for the sport.
"I would attribute that to the more wide-ranging events," Phang said. "We're trying to reach a wider cross section of riders... and the Velodrome is now back up."

He also noted that there has been a steady increase in the quality of riders, along with Oneil Sinclair, who placed second in the Scratch finals.
The JCF will close the 2006 calendar on December 31 with the Grange Hill Road Race, which has become a main attraction for prospective riders in that part of the island.

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