NSWIS Cyclist Ben Kersten
In 1996, Ben Kersten (born 21st September 1981) made his first Australian team. In 1998 Kersten captured the one-kilometer crown at the World Junior Championships in Cuba and capped off the year with two national titles and five NSW titles. In 1999 he took out the World Junior Titles in both the Olympic Sprint and 1km TT events. He broke the Australian and World Records at the 1999 National Championships and was named Australian Junior Male Cyclist of the Year (1998, 1999). In following years, Kersten successfully made the transition to the senior ranks earning recognition as NSW Cyclist of the Year in 2003, 2005, 2006.
Kersten’s career highlights include winning the World Cup series championship in his pet event, and more recently winning gold in the 1km TT at both the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and the World Cup in Los Angeles. In 2006, four National Championship crowns were icing on the cake and a great finish to the cycling season.
Kersten has been a NSWIS Scholarship holder from the inception of the NSWIS in 1996 and remains a scholarship holder. He won the NSWIS Male Athlete of the Year Award in 2005 and was a finalist in 2006.