Posted: November 7, 2005

Athletics: Canada’s Diane Roy fourth at New York City Marathon

NEW YORK- Diane Roy of Sherbrooke, Que., placed fourth in the women’s wheelchair race while Kelly Smith of Vancouver took fifth spot in the men’s wheelchair race to highlight Canadian performances Sunday at the New York City Marathon.

In the women’s wheelchair race, Edith Hunkeler of Switzerland took the gold medal in one hour and 54 minutes and 52 seconds over 42 kilometres. Christina Ripp of the U.S., was second in 1:55.39 and Shelly Woods of Britain third in 1:56:51.

Roy, who won the Oita Marathon in Japan last Sunday then put in a full week’s work back home with her real estate company in Sherbrooke, was fourth in 1:59.30.

“This is a very tough marathon with the climbs,” said Roy, a double medallist at the Paralympics last year in Athens. “And I wasn’t fully prepared for this one, my focus was on Oita last week. So I’m very pleased to end the season this way. I thought I would be further back and I achieved my goal with the time.”

In the men’s wheelchair race, Ernst Van Dyk of South Africa was the winner in a course record 1:31:11 with Aaron Gordian of Mexico second in 1:31:45 and Kurt Fearnly of Australia, who clocked the same time, and ranked third. Krige Schabort of the U.S., was fourth in 1:33.16 and Smith clocked 1:34.41.

Smith was battling for a medal when he suffered a tire failure at the 35 kilometre mark.

“I was feeling very confident and I was moving up to the front but I went into this turn and my tire rolled right off the rim and blew up” said Smith, an air traffic controller in Vancouver. “I was able to fix it but the pack was gone from there. I feel good about the fact that without that mishap, I would have probably challenged Ernest right till the end. I certainly learned a lesson about facing adversity.”

Jeff Adams of Toronto was seventh in 1:38:03 and Michel Filteau of St-Jean-Baptiste, Que., 12th.

Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia won the able-bodied women's marathon in 2:24:41 seconds. Susan Chepkemei of Kenya was second and Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia finished third.

Canadian-born Stephanie Hodge was 36th in 2:57:02, Liz Maguire of Ottawa 60th in 3:06:44 and Karen Warrendorf of Vancouver 80th in 3:09:31.

In the able-bodied men’s marathon Kenya's Paul Tergat held off defending champion Hendrick Ramaala of South Africa in a final sprint Sunday to win the title in 2:09:31.

Medical doctor Richard Cartier of St-Jerome, Que., was 52nd in 2:34:49, Brett Larner of Vancouver 74th in 2:38.25 and Troy Cox , a phamarcist in London, Ont., 75th in 2:38.30.