Young Malek confident he can justify selection

By Shamshul Fitri

PETALING JAYA: Track cyclist Malek Marcus McCrone is ready to step up to the plate after being promoted to the elite squad after years in the junior ranks. The 18-year-old Selangor lad earned his spot in the elite squad recently after a decent performance in the World Junior Track Cycling Championships in Invercargill, New Zealand, in August. Ummi Hamimah Mohamad too has been promoted to the women’s elite squad, joining the likes of Fatehah Mustapa and Ju Pha Som Net. Promoted: Malek Marcus McCrone (right and inset) plans to further his studies in Australia next year. “It is a big opportunity for me and one that is important to my future in cycling. For me to learn and really do well, I need to experience the kind of training the elite cyclists go through and do a lot of races,” said Malek, who in Invercargill, finished 17th in the men’s 1km time trial clocking 1:07.848 and ninth in the keirin. But that was enough for national head coach John Beasley to promote him to be in the same ranks as Azizulhasni Awang and Josiah Ng in line with their ambitious plans for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. “The elite squad’s training regime is quite different,” said Malek, who got the chance to train in Melbourne prior the junior meet. “Plus, I will pursue my studies in Australia next year.’ Malek will be featuring in the Track World Cup in Cali, Colombia, starting on Thursday until the weekend. He will compete in the 1km time trial, keirin and sprint events. “I don’t have any lofty targets there because competition will be very stiff. What I want is to experience competition at a higher level,” he said.