EDMONTON - A breakthrough result in her comeback from injuries has given triathlete Paula Findlay another chance to race in her

EDMONTON - A breakthrough result in her comeback from injuries has given triathlete Paula Findlay another chance to race in her hometown. Shaquille ONeal Jersey . The 25-year-old from Edmonton was a late addition to the Canadian team for the World Triathlon Grand Final in that city. Triathlon Canada announced Monday that Findlay will be added to the start list for the elite womens race Aug. 30. Once ranked No. 1 in the world in womens triathlon, Findlay has faced an assortment of injuries dating back to 2011 when she pulled out of a World Cup race in Edmonton. She finally raced pain-free and finished second at the Patco Premium Cup in Kelowna, B.C., on Sunday to gain consideration for the final. "Ive watched the World Cup race in Edmonton twice from the sidelines," Findlay said in a statement released by Triathlon Canada. "It is hard to watch because I have never had that experience to race at home so it means a lot to me, and will be special for sure. I have a family connection to the event with my mom who has been so involved in the planning of this race. Ive seen how much work it takes to put on an event like this. "Personally, I am starting a new chapter of my career now and to do that in my hometown will be cool." The TransCanada Corp. World Triathlon Grand Final is the last event in an eight-race series that determines the years mens and womens world triathlon champions. The competition includes world junior, under-23 and paratriathlon champions as well. Findlay joins Victorias Kirsten Sweetland, a silver medallist at this months Commonwealth Games, and Sarah-Anne Brault of Quebec City in the elite womens field. Kyle Jones of Oakville, Ont., and Andrew Yorke of Caledon, Ont., race the elite mens event Aug. 31. Findlays star shone bright prior to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She won six world championship series races over 2010 and 2011, including one on Londons Olympic course. But a hip injury suffered while preparing for a World Cup in Edmonton in July, 2011, was the beginning of a downward spiral. She split with her coach the following spring. With only six weeks of quality training prior to the Olympics, Findlay crossed the finish line last in London and sobbed out an apology to Canada. Olympic gold and silver medallist Simon Whitfield criticized her support team the following day for their handling of Findlays situation. Its been a series of health issues for Findlay since then which limited her races. The latest was a stress fracture in her pelvis diagnosed in March. Unable to run until recently, most of her training has been on the bike and in the pool. Findlay also has another new coach in Siri Lindley after parting ways with Joel Filiol in May. "It is not ideal to go into a world championships without a big season of races under your belt, but I got a new coach in June and it has been the best three months of my life following three very difficult years," Findlay said. "This spring I was really quite down. I lost hope and even considered giving up. But I am in such a good place right now mentally and physically. "And to be able to go back now and race in Edmonton is an extra spark of motivation for me." Triathlon Canada high-performance director Libby Burrell says Findlay deserves the chance to race in a "quality field without the weight of expectations on her shoulders." "Paula has a long road back to the top," Burrell continued. "She took a big step forward last weekend in Kelowna by finishing healthy and happy. This will be another small step in her journey to returning to being an elite athlete. Every decision we make regarding her now is with her long term health as our primary focus." Sweetland is a former world junior champion who also ran a gauntlet of injuries in her career. The 25-year-old won bronze in a World Triathlon Series race in Hamburg, Germany, this summer in addition to her Commonwealth silver in Glasgow, Scotland. "I have always looked up to Kirsten. Shes obviously been through a rough patch and similar journey to me and made her way back to the top," Findlay said. "Kirsten has shown it is possible. It is not easy, but it is possible." Heat Jerseys 2020 . If one fighter gases, he usually gets beat up pretty bad from that point on. Bimbo Coles Jersey . - Maynor Figueroa headed in a late goal to give Honduras a 1-1 draw with the United States in an international friendly Tuesday. https://www.cheapheatonline.com/437h-kevin-edwards-jersey-heat.html . And Richard Bachman, their rookie goalie, is facing a penalty shot a few seconds after the opening face-off. No pressure, right? Bachman stood his ground against Zack Kassian and saw the puck dribble off the Canuck rookies stick, then settled in and backstopped the Stars to a 5-2 win over Vancouver Tuesday that put Dallas in first place in the Pacific Division.TORONTO - When Patrick Patterson learned he would be making his first start as a member of the Raptors just prior to Monday nights game he wasnt exactly caught off guard by the news. With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position. Although it likely wasnt an easy sell, Dwane Casey and the coaching staff made the decision to rest Johnson, who had not missed a game due to injury in nearly two years, opening the door for his backup. "I started in Houston so its not new," said Patterson, downplaying his role in Torontos 108-101 home win over the Pelicans after scoring a season-best 22 points. "Its just all about making sure I have a positive role and I know my role on the team… making sure Im a significant part of our teams success." Since coming over in the seven-player trade from Sacramento in early December, Patterson has seen his role increase steadily, earning the trust of his coach and becoming the Raptors most reliable reserve. After Johnson was ruled out, Casey expressed concern about disrupting the chemistry of his second unit by removing a key cog in Patterson, however the forwards recent play made the decision an easy one. "I thought the matchup with (Anthony) Davis was a good one for him," Casey said of Patterson, who has scored in double figures 13 times over his last 20 games, averaging 12.0 points and 5.7 rebounds, shooting 53 per cent from the field in under 24 minutes per contest during that stretch. "(Patterson) was able to stretch the defence and give us some offensive punch." Patterson gave the Raptors a lift where they needed it most. Toronto had been outscored in the opening quarter of the last four games, all on the road, before returning home Monday and getting off to a rare but crucial quick start against Davis and the Pelicans. Patterson - along with Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan - was one of three Raptors to score seven points in the first frame, knocking down both of his shots and helping his team take a 31-20 lead into the second period. Thats where Pattersons presence was missed, as Torontos bench came in and squandered a 15-point advantage. Led by reserve guard Tyreke Evans, New Orleans ripped off a 26-11 run to end the half and would go into the break knotted up with Toronto at 49 points apiece. "For whatever reason we are losing leads with our second unit, what its doing is putting a lot of pressure on our starters and putting them in big minute situations," said Casey with both DeRozan and Lowry hovering around 40 minutes on Monday. "I think they just have to get their rhythm back. Taking (Patterson) off the second unit hurts them a bit, but still we have to gett a rhythm with that second unit so we can rest our starters. Jason Kapono Jersey. ." Heavy mileage has taken its toll on Johnson. The Raptors forward turned his ankle in a win over the Magic late last month - the most recent in a series of ankle injuries - and, to character, had played and started in all five games since. He could have done the same Monday if necessary, Casey indicated before the game, but with the all-star break around the corner and his team poised to make a playoff run over the next couple months, Johnson finally got some much-needed rest. "Its tough to replace a guy like Amir," DeRozan said of Johnson, who had not missed a game to injury since Mar. 5, 2012 (he was suspended for one game last year and sat out the previous season finale). "Everybody has to step up and try to do a little more (without him). Everybody understands their role and once they [saw] Amir [was] out, [they had] to step up and hold down the fort until he gets back." "Were deep," said Lowry, coming off his best game since before the road trip, scoring 19 points to go along with 12 assists and seven boards, five of them offensive. "Thats how we play, thats how we roll. 15 deep." Patterson started six games with the Kings earlier this season and has made 54 starts during his four year career, most of them as a member of the Rockets. With Patterson stepping into the first unit, Tyler Hansbrough - who has fallen out of favour since returning from an ankle injury last month - took advantage of the opportunity he was given off the bench, scoring 12 points and grabbing six rebounds in 14 minutes. "Tyler and Patrick both carried us tonight," Casey said. "I thought they were huge in their minutes." "Tyler came in and was a pro. He brings physicality to the game that we need." Patterson and Hansbrough shared the assignment of neutralizing Davis, the Pelicans second-year forward, who has been a revelation in the Western Conference this season. Davis scored just two points, hitting one of his six shots in his first appearance at the Air Canada Centre exactly a year ago Monday but hes come a long way since then. The first-time all-star is one of five players averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds and the only one doing so while shooting over 50 per cent from the field. Hes also on pace to become just the fifth player since 1973 to lead the NBA in blocks in his first or second season. "Anthony Davis is one of the most skilled big guys in the league," Casey said before the game, comparing him to a young Kevin Garnett. Davis was glued to the bench in foul trouble late in the third as the Raptors made their run and finished the game with 19 points and seven rebounds while Evans, 24 hours after being bench for disciplinary reasons, had 23 points and 10 assists off the bench for New Orleans. ' ' '