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GUADALAJARA, Mexico -- Canadians Melanie McCann and Donna Vakalis take aim at the first Olympic berths on the line Saturday at the Pan American Games in an event that will take all day to decide. The gold medallist in the modern pentathlon -- a gruelling combination of fencing, swimming, equestrian riding, running and shooting -- books a place at the 2012 London Games on Day 1 of competition. "Ive been waiting for this event all year," McCann said. McCann, from Parkhill, Ont., and Vakalis, from Toronto, arrived with their teammates from a high-altitude camp in Colorado. Guadalajara sits almost 1,600 metres above sea level, and with Olympics on the line, they wanted to be well-armed for the thin air. "Because its a direct Olympic qualifier, all Pan American athletes, including ourselves, have been aiming at this and focusing on this for the last year," said Canadas modern pentathlon coach John Hawes. "Weve been competing in World Cups, etc., but this one is our chance to make the Olympics." Chris Pietruczuk of Kolobrzeg, Ont., and Joshua Riker-Fox of Delacour, Alta., will compete in the mens modern pentathlon on Sunday. Hawes believes any one of the four athletes has a chance at nabbing a gold medal and the Olympic berth that goes with it. "Pentathlon is the kind of event with so many things that happen in a day that can go right and wrong, that absolutely any one of our athlete could," the coach said. "Theyre all strong athletes." The Canadian pentathletes have another shot at making the Olympics, through points accumulated in World Cups, and the world championships. There are 11 medals on the line Saturday, including five in swimming, and the first weekend of the Games will crown champions in taekwondo, dressage, rhythmic gymnastics, shooting, and cycling. The mountain bike final for both men and women is Saturday, while the road time trial is Sunday. Canadian champion Max Plaxton of Victoria, is ranked No. 2 in the mountain bike, while Derek Zandstra of Trenton, Ont., is third. Mikaela Kofman of Toronto, the under-23 Canadian champion, and Amanda Sin of Collingwood, Ont., will go for gold in the womens race. The mountain bike course in Tapalpa, a 90-minute drive into the mountains south of Guadalajara, winds over rocky terrain and through some town streets. Guillaume Boivin of Longueuil, Que., Rob Britton of Regina, Joelle Numainville of Laval, Que., and Denis Ramsden of Hay River, N.W.T., will race for medals in the time trial. David Veilleux of Cap Rouge, Que., withdrew citing fatigue. In the pool, Hanna Pierse of Edmonton, the younger sister of world record-holder Annamay Pierse, will compete in the 400-metre individual medley. Canada will also be a favourite in the womens 400-metre freestyle relay. Canadas rhythmic gymnastics team begins what should be a strong four days of competition for a squad that has all but claimed an Olympic berth. The Canadians placed 17th at the recent world championships, putting the team in a favourable spot for a wildcard berth for London. Vinnie Sunseri . -- UFC president Dana White has dismissed Georges St-Pierres concerns about drug testing, calling them ridiculous and "a little kooky. Benjamin Watson . Jones had to work hard against Korean skip Kim Jisun and didnt hold a lead until the seventh end. Jones, lead Dawn McEwen, second Jill Officer and third Kaitlyn Lawes were 8-0 going into the game and had already clinched a berth in the semifinals. http://www.shopjerseyssaints.com/authentic-patrick-robinson- pink-jersey/ . For now, Joe Girardi and the rest of the New York Yankees are just thankful they have the Japanese right-hander pitching like one of the best in baseball. Thomas Morstead Jersey New Orleans Saints . That will be 35 more holes than the first time they played together. Walker was a senior at Baylor when he used his parents credit card -- against their wishes because it was during finals -- to go through Monday qualifying for the Byron Nelson Championship. Stanley Jean-Baptiste Jerseys . Whether starting or coming off the bench, Johnson has always accepted his role in stride, part of whats made him the Raptors unsung hero for the better part of the last three seasons.Former Grand Slam doubles champion and one-time Tennis Hall of Famer Bob Hewitt was indicted Friday on charges of rape and sexual assault of minors and will go on trial in February, his lawyer told The Associated Press. Attorney Alwyn Griebenow said Hewitt denies two charges of rape and one of sexual assault of girls he coached in South Africa decades ago. Walking with the aid of a stick, the 74-year-old Hewitt attended Boksburg Magistrates Court near Johannesburg and told the court he understood the charges. Hewitt was not asked to enter a plea. Griebenow said he would plead not guilty to all three charges at his trial. "Mr. Hewitt is relieved that we at least now have a trial date," Griebenow said. He said Hewitt denied having any sexual contact with the alleged victims or making any "sexual advances" toward them. Hewitt was focusing on "putting the record straight" at the trial, Griebenow added. In South Africa, a defendant is served with indictment papers before his case is sent to a higher court for trial. Hewitt was charged last year and will stand trial from Feb. 9 at South Gauteng High Court, Griebenow said. He is accused of raping a girl under the age of 16 in 1981, raping another girl under the age of 16 in 1982, and sexually assaulting a third girl under the age of 18 in 1994, all in South Africa. The first alleged offence is said to have occurred two years after Hewitt won the last of his 15 Grand Slam doubles and mixed doubles titles. Two of the alleged offences are said to have occurred in the city of Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, and one in the Sun City casino resort in northern South Africca.dddddddddddd At least one other woman in the United States has accused Hewitt of sexually abusing her when she was a minor. The Australian-born Hewitt won nine Grand Slam doubles and six mixed doubles titles in the 1960s and 1970s, playing occasionally with former stars Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean King. He also reached the semifinals of the mens singles at the Australian Open three times and won the Davis Cup with South Africa in 1974 after moving there to live. Hewitt was inducted into the Rhode Island-based Tennis Hall of Fame in 1992 as a master of the doubles craft. He was indefinitely suspended from the hall in 2012 and his legacy stripped from the institution after an investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse, during which he was interviewed by attorneys hired by the hall. Hewitt missed his earlier court dates in Boksburg citing ill health, but arrived for his hearing on Friday wearing a brown blazer and using a walking stick. His doctor said in court documents last year that Hewitt had a stroke in 2010, a heart attack in 2011, and suffered from anxiety attacks and depression among other health problems. Hewitt had to be asked twice in the courtroom if he understood the charges against him, South African newspaper The Star reported. One of the alleged victims, Suellen Sheehan, attended previous court hearings and was present again on Friday, according to The Star. The AP typically does not identify alleged victims of sexual abuse but Sheehan, who was a young player coached by Hewitt, has agreed to be identified by the AP. "Were finally in the home stretch," The Star quoted Sheehan as saying. ' ' '
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