Cycling: Hoy sees off Queally as records fall on fast track

Venue that is probably fastest in world at sea level exploited by cyclists as Tanzanian completes remarkable family double in marathon

Jason Queally had to be content with a second Commonwealth Games silver medal in the 1km time trial last night as Scotland's Chris Hoy took gold in 1min 1.726sec, a new Games record. Queally clocked 1min 1.947sec, while Jamie Staff collected the bronze by clocking 1min 2.456sec.

Queally, who won silver in Kuala Lumpur two years before he much more famously took gold at the Sydney Olympics, went into the event as the favourite but knowing that his England team-mate Staff and Hoy were intent on making him work hard for whatever he might earn.

Hoy, a sprint silver medallist alongside Queally in the British team in Sydney, was understandably delighted. "It's unbelievable," he said. "I've never ever been more nervous before a big race than I was before this one. But I knew that I had a good race in me, that I could do it. I wanted to do myself and Scotland proud and I think I can say I've done that."

The 250-metre track being used for last night's events is reputedly the fastest in the world at sea level and it had been confidently expected that every Commonwealth Games record contested on it would tumble. Before last night the men's 1km Games record stood at 1min 4.018sec, set by Shane Kelly in Kuala Lumpur. The Australian was not defending his title.

Last night's first rider, Johnny Hoyte of the Bahamas, was not only inside that mark after three laps last night but marginally inside the world record time of 58.875sec. If only a fourth lap had not been necessary to complete the required distance. He eventually clocked 1min 18.696sec, no doubt pleasing Queally, who has been helping him out with some coaching recently. The Briton might have been more helpful had he donated a new bike.

Both Hoyte and his compatriot, Barron Musgrove, the secretary of the Bahamas cycling federation, no less, who clocked 1min 16.170sec, rode on old-fashioned, hook-handled machines. It was obviously a nod to days when the Commonwealth meant something.

In the women's 500m time trial, England's two participants (of seven competitors altogether) both briefly held Games records last night, if only because their discipline was making its Games debut. Victoria Pembleton, as the first rider, set the inaugural mark with 35.780sec and held it for a good five minutes before Australia's 18-year-old Anna Meares beat it.

Another home hope, Jules Pauling, then clocked 35.448sec to take her turn as a record-breaker and guarantee herself at least a bronze. It actually ended up as silver because although the No 2 seed, Australia's 19-year-old Kerrie Meares, clocked 35.084 to set the fourth Games record of the night, the No 1 seed Canada's Lori-Ann Muenzer, could only manage 35.595sec for bronze.

"I'm really happy, it's the highlight of my career," Meares said. "I couldn't get my breath at one point but I just had to kick in." Pauling said: "The crowd were fantastic and I'm really pleased with my time." She was not the only one.