Canadians winning in the long run

TORONTO (CP) -- Montgomery overcame a two minute 32 second-deficit in the last leg, the 10-kilometre run, of the Toronto Triathlon and overtook fellow Canadian Sharon Donnelly to win World Cup event yesterday.

Montgomery, from North Vancouver, B.C., finished in a time of one hour 56 minutes and 20 seconds. Donnelly, who grew up in Toronto but lives in Kingston, Ont., came in second in a time of 1:57:42.

The win was the second in three races on the ITU World Cup circuit for the 33-year-old to go with her silver medal at this year's world championships in Perth, Australia.

CHILLY WATERS

Montgomery was behind Donnelly after the first two phases of the event, a 1.5-kilometre swim through the chilly waters of Lake Ontario and 40 kilometres of cycling on the same roads to be used for next week's Molson Indy.

Montgomery won on the strength of her running ability, something which has put her in position to become the first Canadian woman ever to compete in two different sports at the same Olympics. She has also qualified for the Canadian track team in the women's 10,000 metres.

Five-time world champ Simon Lessing of Great Britain demonstrated he's rounding into top form for Sydney with a victory in the men's event in 1:46:41. Simon Whitfield of Kingston gave a strong account of himself, finishing fourth in 1:47:16.

"I went after it," said Whitfield.

"I tried to lead it out a little bit. I might have paid for it in the second half, but that's all right. I think you've got to put yourself in a position to try and win."

SYDNEY PREVIEW?

The medal ceremonies for the women's triathlon could be a preview of the Sydney Olympics. And considering that the women's triathlon kicks off the Olympic medal hunt Down Under on Sept. 16, Donnelly is well aware of what a double podium performance would do for the spirits of the entire Canadian team.

"If we could do that, that'd be awesome," said Donnelly, the 1999 Pan-Am Games champ.

"That's what the Australians are hoping to do. That's why they put it in first, because they were a powerhouse and they're hoping to have the gold medals to set the whole Australian Olympic team off.

"If we can get some medals on the first day, it would just set the whole Canadian Olympic team off."

She's been training with Australian Michelle Jones, the No. 1 ranked woman in the world who placed fourth in yesterday's race.