August 20, 2014 (Ottawa, ON) – With Olympic qualification points on the line, Canada is sending its “A” team to the 2014 UCI Pan-American Track Championships in Aguascalientes, Mexico, from Sept. 11 to 14.

Sixteen Canadians will be in Mexico, with the dual objectives of stepping on the podium and scoring as many UCI points as possible in the Olympic events – the team pursuit, team sprint, omnium, sprint and keirin.

Of note, Gillian Carleton of Victoria, BC will make her return to international track competitions after missing much of the last track season due to illness. Carleton will focus on the women’s omnium, while Laura Brown of Vancouver, BC, Allison Beveridge of Calgary, AB, Stephanie Roorda of Vancouver, BC, Jasmin Glaesser of Coquitlam, BC and Kirsti Lay of Calgary, AB will compete in the women’s team pursuit.

Also returning to international competition for the first time since 2012 is Monique Sullivan of Calgary, AB, who finished sixth in the women’s keirin at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Sullivan will compete in the team sprint alongside either Olympic bobsledder Kate O’Brien of Calgary, AB or track sprinter Sara Byers of St-Catharines, ON. Sullivan’s teammate will be selected after an assessment camp in Los Angeles on Sept. 2.

The men will be looking to build on their performances at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow earlier this summer, where Canada finished fourth in both the team pursuit and the team sprint.

Two riders will be missing from the men’s team pursuit squad: Zach Bell of North Vancouver, BC and Nic Hamilton of Victoria, BC have road commitments with their professional teams. Instead, Sean MacKinnon of Hamilton, ON will step up to join the squad, while Eric Johnstone of Calgary, AB will travel to Aguascalientes as an alternate.

Team Canada – 2014 UCI Pan-American Chamopinships Team

Endurance – Women
– Allison Beveridge (Calgary, AB)
– Laura Brown (Vancouver, BC)
– Gillian Carleton (Victoria, BC)
– Jasmin Glaesser (Coquitlam, BC)
– Kirsti Lay (Calgary, AB)
– Stephanie Roorda (Vancouver, BC)

Sprint – Women
– Kate O’Brien (Calgary, AB) or Sara BYERS (St. Catharines, ON)
– Monique Sullivan (Calgary, AB)

Endurance – Men
– Aidan Caves (Vancouver, BC)
– Eric Johnstone (Calgary, AB)
– Sean MacKinnon (Hamilton, ON)
– Rémi Pelletier-Roy (Quebec, QC)
– Ed Veal (Queensville, ON)

Sprint – Men
– Hugo BARRETTE (Cap-aux-Meules, QC)
– Vincent DE HAÎTRE (Cumberland, ON)
– Joseph VELOCE (Fonthill, ON)