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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday July 20, 2007 - 27 Jones fourth at Pan Ams Triathlete now shifts focus to Olympics Kyle Jones came home from the Pan American Games without the medal he was hoping for, but with a focus set squarely on next year's Olympics. Jones, competing in his first major multi-sport games for Canada, finished just nine seconds behind bronze medalist Brazil's Juraci Moreira in Sunday's men's triathlon. "It would have been great to win a medal, but I'm satisfied with the result," Jones said from Victoria, B.C., Wednesday after returning from Rio de Janeiro. "My goal heading into the race was to be on the podium so I can't be too disappointed with fourth." Jones felt he was positioned well after a strong swim, but he was faced with a decision on the bike when Canadian teammates Brent McMahon and Paul Tichelaar and two other riders broke away from the pack. "I made the decision not to go with them and stay in the group. I figured if they got a 20- to 30-second lead, then there was an opportunity we could (finish) 1-2-3 if I could outrun everyone in the group," he said. "They ended up getting 50 seconds (ahead) by the end of the seven laps, which was a little more than I would have liked." The risk taken by Jones' teammates had mixed results. Tichelaar faded down the stretch and finished 11th, while McMahon won the silver medal after being passed by American Andy Potts in the final few hundred meters. Meanwhile, Jones' strategy was very nearly rewarded. He posted the thirdfastest run time while McMahon, suffering from dehydration, barely made it across the finish line. "There were definitely some situations where I could have taken some risks," Jones said, "but based on the LANG BACK IN FORM: Kara Lang's reconstructed knee appears to be holding up well. She scored three times in a 4-0 victory over Ecuador on Monday, then added another Wednesday in an 11-1 win over Jamacia as the Canadian women's soccer team improved its record to 3-0 at the Pan American Games. Lang, who missed a year after tearing her ACL at a national team training camp last year, scored goals six minutes apart in the opening half against Ecuador, then scored again in the second half for her third senior national team hat trick, and her first since 2003. Canada faces the host country, Brazil, today. FINANCING AVAILABLE! Kyle Jones decisions I made during the race, I'm happy with the result." Jones said the Pan Am Games were a great experience and will serve as a stepping stone to next year's Beijing Olympics. His focus will now be qualifying for those Games. There will be as many as three berths available for Canada and Jones will look to secure a place on the Canadian team, which will be determined by the results from the world championships in Hamburg, Germany (Sept. 2) and the Beijing World Cup (Sept. 16). Jones will compete in the Salford World Cup race in Manchester, England at the end of the month and then return home to prepare for the two critical races. "The Olympics is very important to me. My season is planned around earning one of the three spots available for Canada," Jones said. "The Salford World Cup will be my last race prior to Worlds and then I'll head back to Victoria for four weeks of hard training." -- Herb Garbutt SAVE $$$ Right Now During Our Super Summer Sale! DON'T PAY A CENT `TIL 2008 See Store For Details APPLY TODAY! Dundas St. 2000 Appleby Line Appleby Line 2379 Trafalgar Road (Winner's Plaza) Trafalgar Ridge Plaza Dundas St. (Millcroft Shopping Centre) Postr idge Dr. Millcroft Plaza East Side Mario's LCBO Upper Middle 905-315-7800 905-257-5006 Upper Middle www.thesundancespastore.com Trafalgar Burlington Oakville