Odegard wins gold at the Pan American Racquetball Championships

Kris Odegard of Saskatoon made good on his first opportunity to represent Canada by winning gold in men's singles at the Pan American Racquetball Championships in Guatemala City, Guatemala on Saturday.

Odegard, 26, defeated American veteran Woody Clouse the final, 9-15, 15-14, 11-9. The win avenged Odegard's loss to Clouse at the US Open in Memphis, Tennessee last year when Clouse won in a tie-breaker.

This victory adds to the success Odegard enjoyed as a junior racquetball player. He won World Junior Championship titles in 1993 and 1997. It continues a run of good form that Odegard started at last year's Canadian National Championships in Regina, when he had his best finish ever by reaching the finals before losing to Corey Osborne (Penetanguishene, Ont.) in a tie-breaker.

It's the third time in five years a Canadian has taken the men's singles title at the Pan American Championships. Brian Istace of Calgary won in 2004, and Kane Waselenchuk of Edmonton won in 2002.

This year Istace was playing doubles with Mike Green of Burlington, Ontario. They will return to Canada with bronze medals after losing to Mexicans Ruben Estrada and David Ortega, 15-10, 15-12 in the semi-finals late Friday.

The women's doubles team of Josée Grand'Maître (Longueuil, Que.) and Véronique Guillemette (Deauville, Que.) are also coming home with bronze medals. They lost to Americans Aimee Ruiz and Jackie Rice, 15-2, 15-5 in the semi-finals on Friday.

In women's singles, Paola Longoria of Mexico became the first women to win the Pan American Championship not from the USA or Canada, when she defeated last year's Pan American Champion, Kristen Walsh (USA), 15-4, 15-6.

Longoria's accomplishment is all the more remarkable, because she's only 17 years old. Longoria won the World Junior Championship in 16 and under category last December.

This competition was a prelude to this summer's World Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, August 3-12, 2006.

But first the Canadian players will have to qualify to represent Canada in Santo Dominigo by playing in the Canadian National Racquetball Championships in Edmonton, May 22-27.

RESULTS SUMMARY : SOMMAIRE DES RÉSULTATS

Men's Final : Finale Hommes

Kris Odegard (Saskatoon) d. Woody Clouse (USA), 9-15, 15-14, 11-9.

Women's Final : Finale Femmes

Paola Longoria (Mexico) d. Kristen Walsh (USA), 15-4, 15-6.