Santiago, CHE (Oct. 25, 2023) – After a double-medal first day of competition, Team Canada track cyclists returned to the Velódromo Parque Peñalolén to continue their successful run at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games on Oct. 25 in Chile.
Flying high after a dominant first day of racing, the women’s pursuit team entered the gold medal final with their eyes on the prize. Devaney Collier, 25, of Edmonton, AB, Kiara Lylyk, 19, of Guelph, ON, Fiona Majendie, 25, of Vancouver, BC, and Ruby West, 24, of Dundas, ON, stayed cool, collected and powerful to catch Mexico with a time of 4:23.000m. Colombia was the winner of the bronze medal heat with a time of 4:24.964m.
“We used a young alternate who shows a lot of promise today and we managed to get it done with a really fast time, too,” said National Team Coach Phil Abbott of Lylyk, who was a late substitute after Ngaire Barraclough withdrew due to illness. “We came in as favourites and caught the other team, so couldn’t ride it to completion but a gold medal’s a gold medal. Hopefully some of this team will be in Paris and some of them will be in LA for the Olympics, so this is absolutely great preparation for not only the level of competition, but also managing the venue and all the Games-related things we don’t get to experience the rest of the time.”
Lylyk added, “I couldn’t be prouder of this team. To jump in and for them to support me, it’s amazing. Just a thank you to everyone that’s gotten us here, we’ve all come up through the ranks to be here and it’s an amazing feeling. The passion [the Chilean] people have is incredible and it just brings your racing up a level.”
In the men’s individual sprint, Nick Wammes of Bothwell, ON, displayed his growth since finishing ninth in the event at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games. The 24-year-old Olympian thrilled the crowd across qualification, 1/8- and quarter-final rounds with both decisive victories and an exciting head-to-head finish in his successful quest to reach tomorrow’s final.
Also competing in the men’s sprint for Canada was Tyler Rorke, 20, of Baden, ON. After a strong showing in the morning’s qualification and 1/8 final, he fell to Jair Tjon En Fa (SUR) in the quarter final and ended up placing seventh in the 5-8 final.
In the women’s keirin, Jackie Boyle, 26, crashed in round one, suffering only minor injuries but unfortunately ending her Games experience. The Toronto, ON, native leaves Santiago with a bronze medal from the women’s team sprint.
More information, including results and the full schedule of events, can be found at www.santiago2023.org. Competition for Team Canada’s cyclists continues Oct. 26 with track competition for the individual sprint, omnium and team pursuit.