August 29, 2002, (Kaprun, Austria) – Tomorrow Canadians will be competing
in the World Championship Downhill race. Yesterday’s seeding results
placed the order of start times for Saturday’s race and the Canadians are
not too worried about the results.

In the senior women’s race it was France’s Anne-Caroline Chausson that
qualified first, the only women to ride down the hill in less than six
minutes. Less than fifteen seconds behind her was Missy Giove (USA) in
second place. Chausson’s teammate Nolvenn Le Caer was third. Canada sent a
team of five riders to compete in the downhill. Michelle Dumaresq was the
top Canadian finisher in 25th place, she was followed by Sylvie Allen in
28th, Sheila Morris in 37th, Claire Buchar in 38th and Cassidy Johnshon in
39th. It was reported yesterday that Buchar and Johnson were ill with a
bug and it is hoped that they will be better for tomorrow’s final.
Cassandra Boon, the sixth woman named to the team, reportedly broke her
collarbone earlier this month and was unable to compete at the Worlds this
week.

Canada had a full six-man team registered to compete in the senior men’s
category. Dustin Adams was the top Canadian in 34th position (not 35th as
previously reported). France took the top two spots with Cedric Gracia
grabbing the number one slot and Mickael Pascal in 2nd. Third place went
to Tomas Misser Vilaseca from Spain. There were 106 men registered in the
race and Canadians were seeded as follows: Mathieu Laurin-52nd, Brant
Lyon-55th, Trevor Porter-70th, Mike Jones-80th, and Geoff Pendrel-84th.

The junior women’s seeding runs saw Brook Baker and Darcy Turenne finish
in 8th and 9th. France’s Emmeline Ragot won the race, another French
teammate placed second (Claire Bauchet) and China’s Bernardita Pizzaro
Lazo finished third.

In the junior men’s race it was National Champion Kwanah Siour-Moar who
was Canada’s top finisher in 22nd place. He was followed by Thomas
Vanderham in 25th and Mathieu LaGrange in 52nd. Great Britain’s George
Atherton was the top finisher, followed by Finland’s Matti Lehikoinen and
France’s Jermome Clementz in second and third respectively.

Results:
Senior Women:
1. Anne Caroline Chausson (FRA) 5:56.12;
2. Missy Giove (USA) 6:09:98;
3. Nolvenn Le Caer (FRA) 6:13:40;

Canadians:
25. Michelle Dumaresq 6:53:55;
28. Sylvie Allen 7:13:43;
37. Sheila Morris 8:21:37;
38. Claire Buchar 8:29:11;
39. Cassidy Johnson 8:41:34;

Senior Men:
1. Cedric Gracia (FRA) 5:23:88;
2. Mickael Pascal (FRA) 5:24:09;
3. Tomas Misser Vilaseca (ESP) 5:28:87;
Canadians:
34. Dustin Adams 5:46:09;
52. Mathieu Laurin 5:57:51;
55. Brant Lyon 5:59:45;
70. Trevor Porter 6:07:07;
80. Mike Jones 6:16:92;
84. Geoff Pendrel 6:20:10;

Junior Women:
1. Emmeline Ragot (FRA) 6:43:15;
2. Claire Bauchet (FRA) 6:52:33;
3. Bernardita Pizzaro Lazo (CHI) 6:59:77;
Canadians:
8. Brook Baker 7:49:09;
9. Darcy Turenne 8:02:11;

Junior Men:
1. George Atherton (GBR) 5:32:76;
2. Matti Lehikoinen (FIN) 5:34:23;
3. Jerome Clementz (FRA) 5:39:97;
Canadians:
22. Kwanah Sioui-Moar 5:59:73;
25. Thomas Vanderham 6:01:34;
52. Mathieu LaGrange 6:28:17;