Posted: July 9, 2005

Athletics: Canada wins nine medals in track and field at world championships for athletes with cerebral palsy

NEW LONDON, Conn.- Chelsea Clark of Mississauga, Ont., earned her second gold medal on Friday, one of nine podium appearances for Canada in track and field on a rainy day at the 38-country multi-sport world championships for athletes with cerebral palsy.

Canada added two more silver in cycling to finish the day with four gold, five silver and two bronze. With two days of competition left, Canada has compiled 11 gold, 11 silver and six bronze. Nineteen of the 28 medals have been won in the past two days thanks in large part to the track and field squad.

In track and field, Clark earned the victory in the T34 400-metre wheelchair race after placing first Thursday in the 100 sprint. Christy Campbell of Kitchener, Ont., was third but doesn’t receive a medal because there were only three entries.

"Once I got out in front, I knew no one was going to catch me,” said Clark. “I still had to work really hard during the race. Every so often my hands would slip on the wheels because of the rain and I'd have to get my momentum back."

Also earning gold medals were Carrie Wallace of Peterborough, Ont., in the women’s F33-34 shotput with a toss of 10.23 metres, Eric Flemming of Oshawa, Ont., who won the men’s T35 100 metres by 0.01 seconds while Shane Risto of Mississauga and Kyle Pettey of Brampton, Ont., were 1-2 in the men’s F35-36 shotput tossing 10.73 and 10.36 respectively.

"Eric had a poor start and conceded a few metres to the South African runner early,” said Flemming’s coach Davd Greig. “He chipped away at the lead until he was finally able to overtake him in the last two metres of the race. He didn't panic and showed the poise of a veteran runner."

Wallace was initiating a new piece of equipment.

"It feels pretty good to win a gold medal in my first international competition using a throwing chair,” said Wallace. “My chair was slippery because of the rain, so I had some issues with faulting today. I had some better throws that were faulted. It has been a new experience to compete in this division and a lot of fun."

Besides Pettey, silver medallists in track and field were Joe Radmore of Ottawa in the men’s T33 400 metres while Monique Hartin of Peterborough and Kris Vriend of Edmonton were second and third in the women’s T35-36 shotput with tosses of 19.86 and 19.50 metres respectively.

Jim Shaw of Newcastle, Ont., added a bronze in the F38 discus.

Canada has sent a team comprised of 37 athletes and 18 support staff (including coaches) to New London in four of the eight sports at these championships: cycling, swimming, soccer and track and field. It's the biggest team that the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sport Association (CCPSA) has ever sent to an international competition. The CCPSA is working in partnership with the nationals associations for the four sports.

Competition continues Saturday.