BEIJING – Clayton Gerein of Pilot Butte, Sask., was the top Canadian wheelchair marathon racer Wednesday at the Paralympic Games finishing sixth in the men’s T52 race. Diane Roy of Hatley, Que., appeared headed for a medal but fell in the dying moments of her race for eighth spot.
In the men’s T52 race, Thomas Geierspichler of Austria won the gold medal in a world record one hour and 40.07 minutes, Hirozaku Ueyonobaru of Japan was second only three seconds behind and his compatriot Toshihiro Takada was third 13 seconds behind the winner.
The 44-year-old Gerein, competing at his seventh Paralympics, was looking for a 15th career medal at the Games but couldn’t keep the blistering pace set by the leaders. He had won a medal in each of his five previous Games appearances.
In the women’s T54 marathon, Edith Hunkeler of Switzerland was the victor with Amanda McGrory of the U.S., second and Sandra Graf of Switzerland third.
Roy was in the hunt for gold the entire race but didn’t negotiate the entrance to the stadium properly and fell with about 500-metres to go. She was assisted back into her racing chair and finished the race.
‘’You have to be careful when you get into the stadium tunnel because it goes downhill,’’ said Roy. ‘’I went to fast and too wide and fell. I think it probably cost me the gold medal. My race was going well and I was feeling very strong. It was my error, I should have been more prudent entering the stadium.’’
In the men’s T54 marathon, Michel Filteau of St-Jean-Baptiste, Que., was the top Canadian in 16th while Mark Ledo of Maple, Ont., did not finish.
Despite being shutout of the medals on Wednesday morning it was a great Games for the Canadian track and field team with 19 medals - 10 gold, one silver and eight bronze.
Chantal Petitclerc of Montreal was the big star with five gold medals in wheelchair racing. Wheelchair racers Dean Bergeron of Quebec City and Michelle Stilwell of Nanoose Bay, B.C., added two victories apiece while leg amputee runner Earle Connor posted a victory in his men’s 100-metre sprint.
Roy was the lone silver medallist earned in the 5,000 and she added bronze in the 400 and 800-metre races. Also with bronze were wheelchair racers Bergeron, Ilana Duff of Saskatoon and Andre Beaudoin of Montreal, leg amputee runner Stephanie Reid of Windsor, Ont., thrower Kyle Pettey of Brampton, Ont., and visually impaired runner Jason Dunkerley of Ottawa.
For full results, athlete biographies and other information please visit Athletics.ca.
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