New Zealand's cyclists have clinched a silver medal in the women's team pursuit at the Paris Olympics.
Ally Wollaston, Bryony Botha, Emily Shearman and Nicole Shields were beaten by the United States, missing the gold medal by a sixth of a second in the 4000m final.
Shields, of Clyde, is the second former pupil of Dunstan High School to win a medal after kayaker Finn Butcher clinched gold in kayak cross.
The pursuit team had gone quickest in qualifying, but with just needing a win in their first round clash with Italy, they recorded a slower time than the Americans did in beating Great Britain.
They won in 4min 4.306sec, while the Kiwis finished in 4min 4.927sec, pulling back some time in the last 1000m but unable to get close enough to their rivals.
The US team of Kristen Faulkner, Jennifer Valente, Lily Williams and Chloe Dygert led by 0.845sec after 1000m, by 1.306sec after 2000m and by 1.543sec after 3000m.
Britain defeated Italy to take the bronze medal.
Wollaston told Sky Sport the team could take pride in their silver medal.
"At the end of the day we always wanted to win but that ride was something we can really be proud of us a team.
"To get to this point with these girls, I am really proud to be a part of this team and I think we should be really happy with that ride."
Wollaston said the team members had all come through adversity in the past year.
Shearman said it was ''super cool" to win silver.
"We have known each other since we were really young. There have been parts when we didn't know whether we could get to these points in our career. It's really exciting and I would not have wanted to be here with anyone else."
Botha said her team-mates inspired her, saying that reserves Sami Donnelly and Michaela Drummond were integral part of the team. "It's such a cool culture we have."
Bryony Botha's sister, Leigh-Ann, told Morning Report she was so proud.
"I think they did a really good job actually… even getting a silver medal, that was huge for them that's the first in history for New Zealand in the women's team pursuit, they've never medalled before.
"I think they were a little bit disappointed about their race."
But she said going into the race her sister had said she couldn't believe she was an Olympic medallist.
Botha was the oldest member of the team, at 26, the rest were a young group, Leigh-Ann said.
They'd all given up so much to work hard and compete, she said.
"Not your usual 20 year olds that perhaps maybe go out and have a lot of fun at parties and whatever, but it paid off, they got silver."
Elsewhere, Hamish Kerr is through to the men's high jump final, after being one of only five athletes to clear a height of 2.27 metres. He made the jump on his first attempt.
In the women's pole vault, the Kiwi trio of Eliza McCartney, Olivia McTaggart and Imogen Ayris have all exited the competition.
McCartney was the last of the three left in the competition but failed her three attempts at 4.80m and finished sixth equal in the competition.
Olivia McTaggart and Imogen Ayris bowed out earlier when they failed to clear the bar after it was moved up to 4.70m.
- RNZ/Reuters
