08.29.08 - Calgary cyclist Monique Sullivan makes golden elite debut at Tim Hortons Track Nationals

BURNABY, B.C. – Monique Sullivan of Calgary made a sparkling debut at the elite level in women’s sprint racing with a gold medal performance on Thursday night at the Tim Hortons Track Nationals cycling competition.

Sullivan overcame a 0-1 deficit in the final against Tara Whitten of Edmonton to win the match sprint final 2-1. The 19-year-old Sullivan, a career track cyclist who began riding competitively at age 12 , cruised to the final going undefeated before hooking up with Whitten.

‘’I was really happy with how I responded to the challenge of losing the first ride in the final,’’ said Sullivan. ‘’Tara is a really strong racer and she used her abilities perfectly. It was a very tactical final and I had to really keep focused and not deviate from my plan.’’

Quebec’s Karine Cote won the bronze medal.

At the Olympic Games, Canada did not have an entry in the women’s match sprint event. Sullivan plans to change all that for the 2012 Games in London.

‘’I’m still gaining more and more experience at the national and international level,’’ she said. ‘’It’s going to take time to climb the international rankings to be where I want to be. But my plan is to be in the mix in 2012.’’

In the men’s points race, Zach Bell of Watson Lake, Yukon took the gold medal with his Olympic team teammate Svein Tuft of Langley, B.C., second and Mark Macdonald of Calgary third. Bell was seventh in the event at the Olympic Games.

In the junior women’s match sprint, Laurie-Anne Dupont-Renaud of Montreal defeated Florence Laplante-Lamarche of Ottawa in the final. Krista Ruby of Inglewood, Ont., was third.

In the men’s junior points race, David Boily of Quebec City took the gold, Antoine Duchesne of Jonquiere, Que., was second and Cody Campbell of Surrey, B.C., third.

Competition continues through to Sunday at the Burnaby Velodrome.

For more information: http://www.burnabytracknationals.com/