Posted: June 5, 2005

Paralympics: Canada’s Diane Roy snares second gold medal at international track and field competition for athletes with a disability

(CSN):

ARBON, Switzerland- Diane Roy of Sherbrooke, Que., earned gold and silver for the second straight day on Sunday at the Swiss Championships, an international track and field competition for athletes with a disability.

In the women’s 5,000-metre wheelchair race, Roy clocked 12:00.11for the victory edging her arch rival this weekend Edith Hunkeler of Switzerland second out of eight entries in 12:00.27.

In the women’s 1,500 wheelchair race, Hunkeler earned the victory in 3:39.88 just ahead of Roy in second at 3:40.02.

“I’m pretty pleased with my weekend I recuperated well from last week’s marathon,” said Roy, 33, a double bronze medallist at the Paralympic Games last year. “It sets me up well for the America Race Series which starts in two weeks where I should be approaching my peak condition. It’s nice to leave Europe in a positive frame of mind. I had a great week of training here leading into this weekend’s competition without being too stressed out.”

Michel Juteau of St-Jean-Baptiste Que., was 10th in the men’s 5,000 and 11th in the men’s 1,500 wheelchair races.

“It was a good weekend of preparation for me,” said Juteau. “I posted some solid times and it sets me up well for the rest of the season.”

On Saturday, Jacques Martin of Sherbrooke won silver medals in discus and javelin.