Posted: July 2, 2005

Athletics: World record for Chantal Petitclerc at America Series event

ATLANTA-Chantal Petitclerc of Montreal reclaimed her world record in the women’s 800-metre race on Friday evening at the Meet in the Heat wheelchair racing competition which also serves as the fourth stop in the America Series.

Petitclerc set the record in her semifinal heat clocking one minute and 47.50 seconds. The previous mark was 1:48.33 set here last year by Edith Hunkeler of Switzerland. Petitclerc, who won five gold medals and broke three world records last year at the Paralympic Games in Athens, also holds the world marks in the 100, 400 and 1,500 metres.

“I never expected to get a world record tonight,” said Petitclerc. “But I had a great start and built a very big lead and decided to go full out until the finish. This is a very fast track here and I noticed that the times in the heat before mine were impressive. It’s great, because it’s a record that I didn’t have.”

The final for the event is on Saturday.

Dean Bergeron of Quebec City won Canada’s first medal at the competition with a golden performance in the men’s 400-metre for quadriplegics. Bergeron clocked 1:00.97 coming within 0.70 of his world mark set 10 years ago. Thomas Geierspichler of Austria was second in 1:01.04 and Andre Beaudoin of Montreal third in 1:01.78.

“This was my first big test in my new chair and I had a great feeling tonight,” said Bergeron. “I was on pace for the world record for most of the race. I’ve never posted such fast times this early in the season so that augurs well for the bigger meets coming up.”

Most of the finals are on Saturday. Besides Petitclerc other Canadian finalists include Diane Roy of Sherbrooke, Que., Jeff Adams of Toronto, and Eric Gauthier of Montreal.

Source: Canadian Sports News.