August 30, 2008 (Burnaby, BC) – Tara Whitten of Edmonton upset Olympic team member Gina Grain of Burnaby, BC, to win the gold medal in the women’s points race on Friday at the 2008 Tim Hortons Track National cycling competition at the Burnaby Velodrome.

It was Whitten’s first career national track title in the Points race and third Canadian crown overall. The 28-year-old is a former national team member in cross-country skiing but is now devoting herself full time to track cycling. She won a close battle on Friday over Grain, who placed ninth in the event at this month’s Olympic Games, and third place finisher Stephanie Roorda of Victoria, BC.

“It was a really fun race and really close,” said Whitten, who started track cycling in 2005 and committed herself full time to the sport last year. “My focus has been primarily in the Pursuit but I’m starting to do better and better in the Points race. I’ve really improved my tactical ability in this event and I’m learning more and more.”

In the men’s Madison, Olympic team members Svein Tuft of Langley, B.C., and Zach Bell of Watson Lake, Yukon won the gold medal. Mark MacDonald of Calgary, AB, and Cody Campbell of Surrey, B.C., were second and Ontario pair, David Byer and Daniele Defranceschi, placed third.

Monique Sullivan of Calgary, AB, earned her second victory in two days taking the senior women’s 500-meter race with Quebec’s Karine Cote second and Whitten third.

In the men’s team sprint competition, Team Ontario took the gold with Joseph Veloce, William Lampe and Francois Chabot while Team Alberta was second with Jeff Bakal, Dylan Menard and Mike Patton.

In junior women’s racing, Laurie-Anne Dupont-Renaud of Montreal collected her second and third gold medals of competition. She took the women’s Points race with Krista Ruby of Inglewood, Ont., second and Shanie Bergeron of Chateauguay, Que., third. In the 500-metre, she finished ahead of Florence Laplante-Lamarche of Ottawa in second and Ruby in third.

Allison Beveridge of Calgary, AB, won the junior women’s omnium with Albertan riders Anastasia Stadnik and Gina Kisell, second and third respectively.

The junior men’s team sprint crown went to B.C., with Jacob Schwingboth, Scott Mulder and Curtis Jung while Ontario was second with Trevor Dickenson, Ryan Aitcheson and Allan Leparskas.

Kevin Thorpe of North Vancouver, BC, took the junior men’s kilo with David Boily of Quebec City second and Mulder third.

Results

Points Race

Junior Women

1. Laurie-Anne Dupont-Renaud (QC)
2. Krista Ruby (ON)
3. Shanie Bergeron (QC)

Elite Women

1. Tara Whitten (AB)
2. Gina Grain (BC)
3. Stephanie Roorda (AB)

Team Pursuit

Elite Men

1. Team Ontario Composite
Joseph Veloce
William Lampe
Francois Chabot (QC)

2. Team Alberta
Jeff Bakal
Dylan Menard
Mike Patton

Junior Men

1. Team BC
Jacob Schwingboth
Scott Mulder
Curtis Jung

2. Team Ontario
Trevor Dickenson
Ryan Aitcheson
Allan Leparskas

500m

Junior Women

1. Laurie-Anne Dupont-Renaud (QC)
2. Florence Laplante Lamarche (ON)
3. Krista Ruby (ON)

Elite Women
1. Monique Sullivan (AB)
2. Karine Côté (QC)
3. Tara Whitten (AB)

1000m

Junior Men

1. Kevin Thorpe (BC)
2. David Boily (QC)
3. Scott Mulder (BC)

Madison (40km)

Men

1. Canada Olympic (Zach Bell / Svein Tuft)
2. Symmetrics (Mark Macdonald/Cody Campbell)
3. Ontario (David Byer/Daniele Defranceschi)

Omnium

Junior Women (U17)

1. Allison Beveridge (AB)
2. Anastasia Stadnik (AB)
3. Gina Kisell (AB)