Posted: July 5, 2005

Athletics: Vancouver’s Kelly Smith wins America Series 10 kilometre wheelchair race

ATLANTA- Kelly Smith of Vancouver, only in his second race this season, won the gold medal in the men’s 10 kilometre wheelchair race Monday at the Peachtree Road Race which concluded the five-stop America Series circuit.

Smith, who has missed most of the season due to an arm injury, clocked 19 minutes and 19.22 seconds for the victory finishing ahead of Kurt Fearnley of Australia second in 19:19.29 and Saul Mendoza of Mexico third in 19:20.59.

“I feel great about the win,” said Smith, a Paralympic Games silver medallist last year. “I didn’t have a great off-season but the training I got in was high quality. I felt I had a shot today but I wasn’t sure how the race would unfold. At the finish, Kurt gained a slight lead on me but I told myself I can’t lose this thing and I got a couple of strokes in, went down in my tuck and that was enough to get by him.”

Jeff Adams of Toronto was seventh in 20:18.04 and Michel Filteau of St-Jean-Baptiste, Que., 10th in 20:28.44.

“I was hoping to crack the top-six and I’m disappointed not to achieve that,” said Filteau. “But my time was very good. Still I felt I could have battled for a stronger placing but I really struggled in the last kilometre.”

In the women’s 10 kilometre, Edith Hunkeler of Switzerland won the gold in 23:18.48 with Eliza Stakovic of Australia second in 23:20.59 and Christina Ripp of the U.S., third in 23:22.53.

It was the first time in the series, a Canadian didn’t win a women’s race. Diane Roy of Sherbrooke, Que., was fourth in 23:41.26, a personal best time over the distance and Chantal Petitclerc of Montreal was sixth in 24:43.28.

“I was aiming for a top-three but I knew it would be difficult,” said Roy, who won three races on the circuit this year. “The racers were going at a high pace but in the uphill and downhill sections I defended well but I had trouble with my climbs. I kept myself in contention throughout the race. So the time for me today is the consolation prize.”

Petitclerc enjoyed a great series earning five victories including three on Saturday at the track event in Atlanta.

Source: Canadian Sport News.