Canada wins silver at track cycling World Cup

Canada captured a silver medal in the women's team pursuit at a track cycling World Cup competition Friday in Beijing.

Vancouver's Laura Brown and Stephanie Roorda along with Tara Whitten of Edmonton finished 2.176 seconds behind New Zealand in the gold-medal race.

"This silver medal is a great accomplishment for us," Roorda said in a release. "The competition at the World Cup events is fierce this season with everyone trying to make Olympic qualifications."

Canada improved to third in the overall World Cup standings with 23 points. Australia is second with 25 while the Kiwis are in top spot with 32 points.

In the men's team pursuit, Cameron MacKinnon of Dieppe, N.B., Jean-Michel Lachance of Quebec City, Jacob Schwingboth of Surrey, B.C., and Remi Pelletier-Roy of Longueuil, Que., finished 13th.

In the men's sprint, Canada's Joseph Veloce of Fonthill, Ont.,  Stephane Cossette of Bromont, Que., and Travis Smith of Calgary finished 11th.

Zach Bell of North Vancouver, B.C., is leading the standings of the men's multi-race omnium after the first day of competition. He won the opening flying lap race then went on to finish fourth in the points race and sixth in the elimination event.