2008 Paralympic Games

Day 1 - Sept. 7

2008 PARALYMPIC GAMES - CYCLING: Tandem Team of Whitsell and Woodring miss Bronze by Three-Tenths of a Second

Sept. 7, 2008

BEIJING, China - Because Karissa Whitsell (B&VI/Eugene, Ore.) and pilot Mackenzie Woodring (Grand Rapids, Mich.) had never competed at the international stage in track cycling together, the two could not be seeded and therefore were the first to race in the women's 1 Km Time Trial. After they posted the time of 1:12.787, it was simply a waiting game and with the top three teams remaining, Whitsell and Woodring saw they were still in first place.

"I thought it was an advantage for them to go first," said Team Coach Craig Griffin (Colorado Springs, Colo.) "Since it was Mackenzie's first race it was best for them to get up and go rather than wait and get nervous."

Australia's tandem team of Lindy Hou and Toireasa Gallagher finished their race with a time of 1:12.463 to move the U.S. to second place. However, next came a Paralympic record with the Australian team of Felicity Johnson and Katie Parker, which was immediately smashed by Great Britain's Aileen McGlynn and Ellen Hunter with a time of 1:09.066, also a new world record. Team USA had to settle for fourth place.

"We just met in April, raced our first road race in June and this is our first track race," said Whitsell in talking about her new pilot Woodring. "I am blown away she is as competitive as she is. We are capable of riding faster and it is unbelievable how she has done."

The pair will compete again on Tuesday in the Track Individual Pursuit and will then take to the road, which is their specialty, giving them several more opportunities for a medal.

In other action today, Michael Farrell (CP4/Colorado Springs, Colo.) competed in the Men's Individual Pursuit Qualification round, but did not make it to the finals. Anthony Zahn (LC4/Riverside, Calif.) also competed in the Men's 1 Km Time Trial but failed to medal with his time of 1:29.280.

Day two of track cycling will feature four U.S. women competing in the 500 m Time Trials. Allison Jones (LC3/Denver, Colo.) and Barbara Buchan (CP3/Bend Ore.) will compete in the category of LC3/LC4/CP3. Greta Neimanas (LC1/Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Jennifer Schuble (CP4/Homewood Ala.) will compete in the LC 1/LC 2/ CP4 classification

"All women's 500 m timed trials are tomorrow," said Griffin. "We should pull something off and get that first medal. The first medal is always the hardest to get and we are looking at coming away with one on Monday."

Members of the U.S. Paralympic Cycling Team:

Track:

Name (Classification/Hometown)

Barbara Buchan (CP3/Bend Ore.)

Mike Farrell (CP4/Colorado Springs, Colo.)

Allison Jones (LC3/Denver, Colo.)

Greta Neimanas (LC1/Colorado Springs, Colo.)

Jennifer Schuble (CP4/Homewood Ala.)

Karissa Whitsell (B&VI/Eugene Ore.)

Mackenzie Woodring (Pilot for Whitsell/Grand Rapids, Mich.)

Anthony Zahn (LC4/Riverside, Calif.)

Road:

Name (Classification/Hometown)

Alejandro Albor (HCC/Elk Grove, Calif.)

Mike Farrell (CP4/Colorado Springs, Colo.)

David Lee (HCB/Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Calif.)

Oz Sanchez (HCC/San Diego, Calif.)

Allison Jones (LC3/Denver, Colo.)

Greta Neimanas (LC1/Colorado Springs, Colo.)

Jennifer Schuble (CP4/Homewood Ala.)

Matthew Updike (HCB/Denver, Colo.)

Karissa Whitsell (B/VI/Eugene Ore.)

Ron Williams (LC2/Hoover, Ala.)

Mackenzie Woodring (Pilot for Whitsell/Grand Rapids, Mich.)

Anthony Zahn (LC4/Riverside, Calif.)

For more information or to arrange an athlete interview, please contact Katrina Shaklee at 13910754730 (if calling from the U.S., dial 011 86 plus the local number).