THE CANADIAN PRESS
MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina — Calgary track cyclist Monique Sullivan won gold in the women’s sprint at the 2012 UCI Pan-American Championships on Tuesday.
Sullivan outraced Cuban rival Lisandra Guerra in the final, taking two of three heats.
Bobsled and rugby star Heather Moyse of Summerside, P.E.I., finished fifth in the sprint, while Calgary’s Travis Smith took bronze in the men’s keirin sprint.
In the women’s gold medal race, Guerra took the win in the first heat, but Sullivan came back with two straight wins to take the Pan-American title.
"This was my first real international win, my first time hearing the Canadian national anthem while standing on the top step of the podium," Sullivan said. "I am really happy, Lisandra is a great competitor and this is my first time beating her head-to-head in a sprint."
Moyse, an Olympic gold medallist in bobsled, qualified ninth, then won her first duel before facing Sullivan in her second race. Sullivan’s experience proved to be too much for Moyse, who was in just her second career race. The multi-sport athlete recovered in the relegation round to take fifth.
In the men’s keirin, Smith crossed the finish line in third place after leading most of the race, and took the bronze medal. It was an impressive finish for Smith, who failed to qualify outright for the final and had to get there through the repechage.
"It started off slow for me as my legs felt a little flat and I was passed at the line of the first heat. This meant I was sent to the repechage rounds, to fight my way back into the rounds," Smith said.
"When I got back to the track, I found that I was in the first heat with a world-class set of riders. I kept fighting all the way to the line and ended up finishing third, and getting good Olympics qualifying points."