July 14, 2007 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) — Canada’s Catharine Pendrel from Kamloops, BC, has won the gold in the Elite Women’s MTB race at the 2007 Pan American Games today in Outeiro Hill – the first medal at the Games. Here are some quotes from Pendrel after her win courtesy of MPCcommunications:

“It feels great to be the first medal of the Games.”

(On the Brazil Canada tight race for 3rd place) – “Obviously I want Canada to win the most medals, but I wish Brazil luck in their endeavours because it’s exciting to win medals in your own country.”

“I really enjoyed the course. It was well constructed and had a little bit of everything to challenge the riders. I was leading the event from the second lap and was keeping a good pace. On the last lap, Mary McConneloug (USA) managed to overtake me, and I thought I would lose. I gave my best and recovered the lead on one of the last curves of the track.”

Results (brief)

1. Catherine Pendrel (Can) 1:46:06
2. Mary McConneloug (USA)1:47:44
3. Laura Morfin (Mex)