May 23/07 10:07 am - Canadians Advance on Day 2 of Pan Am Track Championships

Posted by Editor on 05/23/07
 

Canadians Advance on Day 2 of Pan Am Track Championships

Canadian sprinters advanced through Day 1 of the sprint competitions at the Pan Am Track Championships in Valencia, Venezuela on Tuesday.

Monique Sullivan was fifth in the Flying 200M Time Trial, but lost in the 1/8th Final, and will race today (Wednesday) in the ride-off for 5th through 8th places. Cam Mackinnon was fourth in his 200M ride, and Lawrence Leroux18th, and the final rider to qualify for the first round of the sprint competition. Mackinnon won his first round of 18 competition and 1/8th final ride, and advances to the quarterfinals today. Leroux lost in the first round and the repechage and is out of the sprint competition.

In Scratch Race competition, both Martin Gilbert and Ryan McKenzie raced, with Gilbert finishing fourth. Gina Grain used the women's Scratch Race as a warm up for the Points Race and finished 6th. Both Grain and Zach Bell race in the Points Race today.


USA Cycling Report

After capturing two gold medals on the opening day of competition at the 2007 Pan American Road and Track Championships Monday, the United States Cycling Team was kept off the podium on Tuesday in all three events that were contested to completion.

Neva Day (USA/South Bay Wheelmen), a last-minute replacement for world champion Sarah Hammer, came close to scoring a third medal for the U.S. with a fourth-place effort in the women's individual pursuit. After qualifying for the bronze medal final earlier in the day, Day was paired against Dailia Rodriguez of Cuba in the head-to-head, three-kilometer race where she clocked a 3:58.370, a mark nearly four seconds slower than Rodriguez' 3:54.868.

In the men's scratch race, after winning a gold medal in the omnium on Monday, Brad Huff (USA/Slipstream-Chipotle) turned in the second-best American performance of the evening with a fifth-place finish. Kenny Williams (USA) also contested the scratch race and placed 16th.

In the women's scratch race, Becky Quinn (USA) was the top American performer, placing eighth, while Day placed 18th.

Michael Blatchford (USA) and Adam Duvendeck (USA/Momentum) both advanced to the quarterfinals of the men's sprint, while the U.S.' third entry in the event, Kevin Selker (USA) was eliminated in the second round repechage and was credited with ninth place overall.

After winning the women's keirin on Monday, Jennie Reed (USA) advanced to the semifinals of the women's sprint.

The 2007 Pan American Road and Track Championships continue on Wednesday with the men's and women's points races which will feature Quinn, Day, Williams and Colby Pearce (Boulder, Colo.). Blatchford, Duvendeck and Reed will also contest the final rounds of their respective sprint events.


Women's Scratch Race

1. Elizabeth Agudelo (Col)
2. Jessica Jurado (Mex)
3. Janildes Fernandez (Bra)

6. Gina Grain (Can)
8. Becky Quinn (USA)
18. Neva Day (USA)

Men's Scratch Race

1. Luis Mansilla (Chi)
2. Maximo Rojas (Ven)
3. Cristian Calavero (Arg)
4. Martin Gilbert (Can)
5. Brad Huff (USA)

16. Kenny Williams (USA)

Women's Individual Pursuit

1. Maria Calle (Col) 3:51.747
2. Daniely Garcia (Ven) 3:52.854
3. Dalila Rodriguez (Cub) 3:54.868
4. Neva Day (USA) 3:58.370