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Compton and Whitsell Earn Silver at IPC Cycling World Champoinships
By Marvin Olberding
// U.S. Paralympics
// September 12, 2006
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| Photo by Phil Cole (Getty Images) |
Karissa Whitsell (left) and Katie Compton, shown competing at the 2004 Paralympic Games, won the first medal for the U.S. at the 2006 IPC Cycling World Championships.
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AIGLE, Switzerland - The tandem of Karissa Whitsell (stoker, Springfield, Ore.) and Katie Compton (pilot, Colorado Springs, Colo.) won the first medal for the U.S. Tuesday at the 2006 IPC Cycling World Championships in Aigle, Switzerland, taking silver in the women's tandem 1,000-meter Time Trial with a time of 1:13.127.
The duo beat the German tandem of Michaela Fuchs and Sonja John by more than two seconds to finish with silver, but trailed the winning pair of Aileen McGlynn and Ellen Hunter (GBR) by about the same margin. McGlynn and Hunter won the time trial with a time of 1:10.795, a World Championships record.
"Katie and Karissa rode well today," said head coach Craig Griffin. "Their strongest event is coming up tomorrow, and we hope that history is a good predictor of the future. I'm looking forward to seeing them in the Pursuit and some solid events on the road."
In the men's Time Trial, Paul Martin (Boulder, Colo.) led a trio of U.S. men in the LC2 division, finishing sixth. Sam Kavanagh (Bozeman, Mont.), coming off a personal best yesterday in the Pursuit, set another new personal standard today on his way to a ninth-place finish, and Ron Williams (Birmingham, Ala.) was right behind in 11th.
"I was really pleased with Sam's performance in his first international competition," Griffin said. "Ron and Paul gave solid performances on the track, and I think that will give them momentum heading into their strongest events, which are on the road."
Action on the track at the World Cycling Centre in Aigle will conclude Wednesday. Events will include the Women's 500m Time Trial, the Men's Team Sprint and the Women's Individual Pursuit (blind and visually impaired class), where Compton and Whitsell will go for a second medal in as many events.
The U.S. won silver in the Men's Team Sprint at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens with the team of Martin, Williams and Dan Nicholson (Richmond, Va.). A repeat of that success will be difficult, though, as Nicholson was unable to make the trip. Nonetheless, Griffin has a positive outlook going forward.
"Everyone is healthy and looking good, and we’re looking forward to the upcoming days of competition," Griffin said.
After an day off on Thursday, action will resume on Friday with the road events. For full results from the 2006 IPC Cycling World Championships, visit http://www.2006ipc-cycling.com/.
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