Sarah Hammer breaks 11-year-old record

After breaking an 11-year drought with a world title in the women's 3000m individual pursuit in April, Sarah Hammer (Ouch Pro Cycling) eclipsed another 11 year-old mark Wednesday, setting a new national record in the same event during the opening session of the USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships at the ADT Event Center. Wednesday evening in California, Hammer added another national title to her palmarès, catching silver medalist Katie Compton six laps into the 12 lap race.

Hammer posted a time of 3 minutes, 32.865 seconds to smash the previous national record of 3'36.08 set by American Rebecca Twigg in Bogota, Colombia in 1995.

"I had hoped to break the national record," explained Hammer. "That was the goal. Obviously, being world champion, I wanted that record but I didn't want to think about it too much because it's only October and training has just started. My times in training have been consistent with what would be on pace to do that, but I didn't think I'd be riding a 3'32that's for sure. I was thinking maybe a 3'35."

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The achievement by Hammer moves here closer to her ultimate goal: a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics. "It makes me confident and a little hungry for that gold medal in Beijing," Hammer continued. "I want that gold medal. That's what I would like to walk away with when I walk away from cycling - world champion, Olympic champion, and at some point, world record holder."