Posted: May 28, 2005

Paralympics: Canada's Diane Roy Third At Oensingen Wheelchair Marathon Race

OENSINGEN, Switzerland- Diane Roy of Sherbrooke, Que., won the bronze medal Saturday in the women's race at the Oensingen wheelchair marathon competition held in unseasonably warm weather.

Francesca Porcellato of Italy surprised the field clocking one hour and 47:00 minutes over 42 kilometres (three 14 kilometre loops) for the victory. Sandra Graf of Switzerland, the pre-race favourite, was second at 1:47:12 and Roy followed in third at 1:51:30.

"I didn't come over here as well prepared as I would have liked," said Roy, a silver medallist at the Boston Marathon in April and now in her 12th season on the national team. "The bad weather back home really hampered our marathon training. And I paid for it today. After the first lap I was wondering whether I should continue, I didn't feel strong. I actually felt better as the race progressed."

The heat was also a factor with the thermometer reaching 34 celsius.

In the men's marathon, Madera Jimenez of Spain won the gold medal in 1:31:39 with Heinz Frei of Switzerland second at 1:31:40 and Tomasz Hamerlak of Poland third at 1:31:41.

Michel Juteau of St-Jean-Baptiste, Que., was seventh at 1:33:05. Juteau was with the leaders with six kilometers to go but cramped up.

"I'm pleased and disappointed with my race," said Juteau, fifth at the Boston Marathon. "On the last lap my chest and arms started to cramp just as they started to pick up the pace. I just stayed still. I was so hot and sweated so much that I got dehydrated, even the water and Gatorade couldn't help me today."

Roy and Juteau were the only two Canadian entries.