CALGARY'S HALEY BREAKS WORLD RECORDS AT SWIM MEET

BERLIN- Andrew Haley of Calgary broke the world record in the men's 200-metre freestyle Saturday, then broke a second world record on Sunday and Chelsea Gottel of Antigonish, N.S., also lowered a world mark. These performances highlighted a dominating performance by Canada at the 22-country German national championships for swimmers with a disability at the 22-country German national championships for swimmers with a disability.

Andrew Haley of Calgary breaks some records in the pool

The 10-member Canadian team, which included five juniors, won 28 gold medals, 14 silver and 11 bronze at the three-day meet. Medals were awarded for both junior and open competition therefore some Canadians received two medals for the same race. Haley, a double medallist at the 2000 Paralympic Games, clocked two minutes and 13.78 seconds in the S9 disability category. That smashed the previous world mark of 2:17.20 set by another Canadian, Brad Sales of Woodstock, Ont., last year at the U.S., Championships in Phoenix. Haley also clocked 30.82 seconds in the S9 category 100-metre butterfly for the world record.

It was Haley's third gold of the competition. He's also won the 400 freestyle and 100 butterfly. "Andrew is very consistent," said Canadian national team coach Andrew Craven. "He's always well prepared, trains well and sets a good example for the other swimmers." Chelsea Gottel of Antigonish, N.S., earned gold medals in her 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley events and junior member Elaine Harrison of Brantford, Ont., also posted two victories placing first in her 100 backstroke and 50 breaststroke. Two other junior women also won gold. Amelie Bonenfant-Corneau of Alma, Que., in her 50 breaststroke and Rhea Schmidt of Winnipeg in her 400 freestyle. Other Canadian winners were veterans Marie Dannhaeuser of London, Ont., in her 400 freestyle and Adam Purdy of London in his 100 backstroke. "With over 400 swimmers this is one of the biggest events for swimmers with a disability in terms of entries after the Paralympics," said Canadian national team coach Andrew Craven. "One of the reasons we're here is to give our top juniors some international experience." The swimmers with a disability competition features different finals for different disabilities in each discipline. Next on the schedule for Canadian swimmers with a disability are the Commonwealth Games July 25-August 4 in Manchester, England. They'll be the first major Games in which events for athletes with a disability count towards the official medal total.

WHITFIELD, MONTGOMERY ON COMMONWEALTH GAMES TRIATHLON TEAM

OTTAWA- Olympic champion Simon Whitfield of Kingston, Ont., and Carol Montgomery of North Vancouver, B.C., are two of the five-members selected to the Canadian triathlon team for the 2002 Commonwealth Games July 25-August 4 in Manchester, England.

Simon Whitfield on his way to his second straight Canadian Triathlon champoinship.(Photo curtesy John Litherland/Madeleine Tremlnay).

It's the first time triathlon is on the Commonwealth Games program. Whitfield returned to action for the first time in two months on the weekend at the Canadian championships. He placed second in the race to an American and therefore collected a fourth consecutive national crown. He broke his collarbone and both wrists in a bicycle spill at a World Cup race in Australia in April. "Simon will certainly aim for the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games," said national team triathlon coach Lance Watson. "But he won't be the odds-on favorite as he was before the accident. But if he is anywhere near the front after the bike race it'll probably come down to a foot race between him and Australian Peter Robertson."

Kelly Guest of Victoria is the other male entry. He was a runner-up at the 2001 Canadian championships and was also a member of last year's world championship team.

On the women's side Montgomery is regarded as the best runner in the world in triathlon competition and is a consistently strong performer. She is a six-time national champion and three-time world championship medallist.

"If Carol's within two minutes of the lead pack after the bicycle race she's a threat to win," said Watson.

Joining Montgomery on the women's side are 1999 Pan Am Games champion and 2000 Olympian Sharon Donnelly of Kingston, Ont., who won the Canadian title on the weekend. And Natasha Filliol of Paris, Ont., a former Canadian junior champion, who ran through a strong field to place second to Donnelly at nationals.

"Canada, New Zealand and Australia are among the top-three nations in triathlon and will have quite a rivalry at the Commonwealth Games," said Marg McGregor, Chef de Mission for the Canadian team. "This is a sport that's gaining in popularity around the world and it was a natural addition to the Games."

Men: Simon Whitfield, Kingston, Ont.; Kelly Guest, Victoria
Women: Sharon Donnelly, Kingston, Ont.; Natasha Filliol, Paris, Ont.; Carol Montgomery, North Vancouver, B.C.

TEAM CANADA READY TO DEFEND RACQUETBALL WORLD TITLE

Winnipeg - A talented and determined Canadian team is preparing to defend its title at the eleventh World Championships.

Head Coach Ron Brown of Winnipeg has announced the team that will represent Canada at the 2002 Racquetball World Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico from August 2-9.

Brian Istace, who trains in Calgary and is ranked fourth nationally, is excited to be selected for the Men's singles, and likes the teams chances at the World Championships.

Brian Istace of Calgary is going to the World Championships.

"Our team is ranked number one going into the Worlds," said Istace, 29, "which gives us a great chance at repeating the title." That top-seeding was earned at the 2000 World Championships in Mexico where, for the first time ever, Canada won the World Cup. Since then, Canada has followed up with a first-place finish at the 2002 Tournament of the Americas in Bolivia, including a first-time ever gold medal win by the Canadian women's team. Karina Odegard, 19, of Saskatoon was part of the women's doubles team that won gold in Bolivia, and was on the World Championship team in 2000.

"I'm excited about going - we have a very strong team." Odegard and MacDonald, 24, are the current Canadian doubles champions.

Winnipeg's Jennifer Saunders, 25, is the newly crowned Canadian singles champ. "Over the coming weeks I'll be training hard on my fitness and my game. I want to represent Canadian racquetball to the best of my ability, and I want to strongly contribute to the team as we retain our title."

According to Canadian singles champion Michael Green, 27, "Our men's team has exactly the same people as two years ago, but we're all much stronger now than we were then. I feel great about our chances." Green, Istace and Waselenchuk are all highly-ranked players on the men's professional racquetball circuit in the US.

The players are:
Men's Singles: Brian Istace (Calgary), Kane Waselenchuk (Edmonton)
Men's Doubles: Michael Green (Burlington), Mike Ceresia (Burlington)
Women's Singles: Jennifer Saunders (Winnipeg), Josee Grand'Maitre (Longueuil)
Women's Doubles: Amanda MacDonald (Prince Albert), Karina Odegard (Saskatoon)

CCA ANNOUNCES COMPLETE MANCHESTER COMMONWEALTH GAMES CYCLING TEAM

Ottawa, ON - The Canadian Cycling Association is pleased to announce the team that will represent Canada in Track, Road and Mountain Bike cycling at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Manchester, UK from July 25 - August 4.

Earning his spot on the Men's road team at the Grand Prix de Beauce in Quebec Tuesday is Gord Fraser. Gord joins the 2001 National Champions Eric Wohlberg and Mark Walters. In addition, the CCA's High Performance committee has selected Mike Barry as the fourth man on the men's road team.

Jim Fisher of Calgary is going to the Commonwealth Games

On the track, Lori-Ann Muenzer is the sole Canadian woman. At the track trials held in Bromont 2 weeks ago, Jim Fisher, brothers Lars and Steen Madsen and Tyler Hansen earned their tickets to Manchester. On the road representing the women, joining Clara Hughes, Lyne Bessette and Geneviève Jeanson is Erin Carter of Manitoba. Erin has been racing on the track and on the road for many years, and her strength in both disciplines will be an asset to the team.

Finally for mountain bike, the men's team has Roland Green, Geoff Kabush, and Seamus McGrath.

On the women team, the composition has changed slightly. Representing Canada will be Kiara Bisaro, winner at the trials, Chrissy Redden, selected by the High Performance Committee, and Marie Helene-Premont, also a choice of the High Performance Committee. Premont replaces Alison Sydor who was pre-selected to the team.

Alison made the tough decision of declining her spot on the Commonwealth Games team. Sydor's sole objective this season is representing Canada at the World Championships. Sydor has already represented Canada at both the 1990 and 1994 Commonwealth Games.

2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games Canadian Cycling Team:
MTB Men: Roland Green-Victoria, BC Geoff Kabush-Courtenay, BC Seamus McGrath-Millgrove, ON
MTB Women: Kiara Bisaro-Courtenay, BC Marie-Helene Premont-Chateau Richer, QC Chrissy Redden-Campbellville, ON
Road Men: Mark Walters-Blackstock, ON Eric Wohlberg-Levack, ON Gord Fraser-Ottawa, ON Mike Barry-Toronto, ON - June 18
Road Women: Lyne Bessette-Knowlton, QC Erin Carter-Winnipeg, MB Clara Hughes-Winnipeg, MB Genevieve Jeanson-Lachine QC
Track Men: Jim Fisher-Calgary, AB Tyler Hansen-Victoria, BC Lars Madsen-St. Albert, AB Steen Madsen-St. Albert, AB
Track Women: Lori-Ann Muenzer-Edmonton, AB

CANADIAN PADDLERS EARN TWO BRONZE MEDALS AT DUISBURG REGATTA

DUISBURG, Germany-Mike Scarola of Waverley, N.S., and Richard Dalton of Halifax placed third in the men's C-2 and Canada's men's C-4 also captured bronze in 1,000-metre finals Saturday at the Duisburg Regatta canoe and kayak World Cup competition.

In the men's C-2 1,000, Alexander Kostoglod and Serguei Ouleguin of Russia were the winners in three minutes and 40.041 seconds. Romania with Olympic champions Mitica Pricop and Florin Popescu were second in 3:41.051 while Scarola and Dalton were a close third in 3:41.221.

"We really focused with keeping up with the leaders in the first part of the race and that really worked for us today," said Dalton. "We were third at the halfway point and that gave us confidence for the rest of the race."

In the men's C-4 1,000, Romania took the gold in 3:23.131, Belarus was second in 3:23.631 and Canada with world junior champion Mark Oldershaw of Burlington, Ont., Maxime Boilard of Lac-Beauport, Que., Dimitri Joukovsky of Halifax and Tamas Buday, Jr., were third in 3:25.391.

MCCANN SETS NATIONAL RECORD

EDMONTON (CP) -- Stephanie McCann set a national record by clearing 4.35 metres in the women's pole vault Friday on the opening day of the Canadian track and field championships.

McCann, from North Delta, B.C., earned her second straight Canadian title and topped a 4.25-metre performance at the world championships in Edmonton last summer.

"I think it's going to be (my) favourite place to jump, for sure," said McCann, who set the new standard on her second attempt.

McCann was way ahead of the rest of the field. Jackie Honey of Winnipeg was second and Dana Ellis of Kitchener, Ont., was third as both athletes cleared 4.10.

"We had great conditions and good weather. I hadn't put it together in a meet yet and today was the day," said McCann, who will be going to next month's Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England.

Atia Weekes of Calgary wins her first ever Canadian title in the 100 metre.

A sizeable crowd of over 1,000 was on hand to watch performances at Foote Field in balmy 27 C weather. In other results Friday evening, Sprinter Atia Weekes of Calgary let out a scream as she crossed the finish line first in the women's 100-metre final in a time of 11.47 seconds for her first Canadian title. "This means a lot because I normally don't cry, and I'm sitting here balling," said Weekes, who had a knee reconstructed last November. "I don't know how I did it."

Weekes' time was not a Commonwealth Games standard. Philoomena Mensah of Surrey, B.C., was second at 11.58 and Tara Perry of Coquitlam, B.C., came third at 11.60.

Javelin thrower Scott Russell had a toss of 76.55 metres but fell well short of his Canadian record of 81.66 set last year in Edmonton.

"I didn't throw what I can," said Russell.

Russell, a Windsor, Ont., native, had already earned a spot on the Commonwealth Games team, and is ranked 47th in the world. "I've been throwing off all season, but hopefully I'll be able to line things up and throw big at Commonwealth."

Sean Kaley of Ottawa won the men's 5,000 metres with a big final kick for a time of 14 minutes 7.88 seconds.

"You can't do better than first," said Kaley. "I wanted to wait as long as I could and then give it everything I had over the last few laps."

Jeff Schiebler of New Westminster, B.C., was second at 14:10.17 and Jeremy Deere of Calgary came in third at 14:10.66.

Kaley has qualified for the Commonwealth Games in the 10,000 metres and can petition to run the 5,000 as Canadian champion.

THE COC INCREASES FUNDING FOR TOP ATHLETES AND SPORTS

The Canadian Olympic Committee today distributed more than $5.25 million to 45 National Sports Federations and seven Pan American only sports, $920,000 to athletes and announced a new $650,000 support program to coaches.

Part of its new philosophy of supporting excellence, COC rewarded National Sports Federations (NSF) that have recently achieved Olympic and Pan Am Games top-eight results - including Speed Skating, Ice Hockey, Diving and Rowing.

The NSF support program was renamed "High Performance Support Program" to reflect the new philosophy. It will be fully implemented in the next quadrennial, beginning January 1, 2005. It focuses on future results, and rewards the sports that achieve top-eight Olympic and Pan Am finishes.

"This funding announcement has high performance principles at its core," said Jim Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, COC. "Through this transition time and into the future, we will continue to support all 45 of our National Sports Federations and seven Pan American only sports. However, our funding will not be distributed as evenly as in the past. Sports that earn podium and top eight finishes will receive rewards for these finishes."

"We will continue to invest in athletes and sports that demonstrate
potential, but we will no longer use our limited resources to fund all sports in the same way," added Thompson. "Our focus now more than ever, for both athlete and NSF support, is on future high performance excellence and podium finishes."

For more information see the COC website: www.coa.ca