MEN’S PURSUIT TEAM SETS NEWS RECORD AT SANTIAGO 2023 PAN AMERICAN GAMES
Santiago, CHE (Oct. 26, 2023) – Track cycling at the Velódromo Parque Peñalolén continued for a third day at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games on Oct. 26 in Chile.
In qualifying for the men’s team pursuit, Chris Ernst, 24, of Kitchener, ON, Michael Foley, 24, of Milton, ON, Carson Mattern, 19, of Ancaster, ON, and Sean Richardson, 22 of Vancouver, BC, not only led the pack but set a new Pan American record with a time of 3:55.981m to finish nearly a full five seconds ahead of Colombia. For the following round one, Ernst swapped out with 18-year-old Campbell Parrish of Vancouver, BC, and the refreshed team caught Argentina to earn a spot in tomorrow’s gold medal final.
“[Argentina] really raced us, we were impressed with the ride they put down but managed to catch them about 3k into the ride. We’re off to the gold final tomorrow, we’re looking forward to it,” said Tokyo 2020 Olympian Foley, who won gold in the event at the San Juan 2023 Pan American Track Championships alongside Richardson and Ernst as alternate. “It’s a young team so we’ve used all of our riders, which is awesome as well because it shows the depth of our program. Tomorrow’s going to be hard, Colombia races so we’re going to have to give it everything.”
After a strong first day in the men’s sprint, 24-year-old Olympian Nick Wammes of Bothwell, ON, faced a challenging second day of competition. He won only one of three bouts against Jair Sur Tjon En Fa (SUR) to move to the bronze medal final, where he fell in two heats to Kevin Santiago Quintero Chavarro (COL). The gold medal went to Nicholas Paul of Trinidad and Tobago, while Tjon En Fa took silver.
Sarah Orban, 28, of Calgary, AB, also had a tough sprint competition for the women. She placed second in qualifying; was relegated in her 1/8 finals heats against Chile’s Daniela Alejandra Colilef Barrios; fought her way back in the repechage but ultimately lost in the quarter final to Martha Bayona Pineda (COL). Orban was joined in the women’s sprint by her gold medal teammate from Oct. 24’s team sprint, Emy Savard of Saguenay, QC. The 20-year-old continued her National Team debut in Santiago by placing 13th; the women’s sprint concludes tomorrow.
In the women’s omnium, Devaney Collier, 25, of Edmonton, AB, placed ninth in the scratch race, 11th in the tempo and fourth in the elimination. A final push in the points race landed her fifth overall. Yareli Acevedo Mendoza (MEX) claimed gold, Lina Marcela Hernandez (COL), took silver and Catalina Anaís Soto Campos (CHE) earned bronze.
More information, including results and the full schedule of events, can be found at www.santiago2023.org. Competition for Team Canada’s cyclists continues Oct. 27 with track competition for the individual sprint, keirin, Madison and team pursuit.
