Meryeta O'Dine of Prince George placed fifth in qualifying Thursday in a World Cup women's snowboard cross competition in Cervinia, Italy.
The 20-year O'Dine finished her qualifying race in 51.02 seconds, 2.34 seconds behind pacesetter Michela Moioli of Italy. Charlotte Bankes of France (50.66) and Raffaella Brutto of Italy (50.70) were second and third respectively.
O'Dine was 17th at the first interval but made up ground in the second half of the course. She averaged 56.45 kilometres per hour in her run. The eight fastest qualifiers Wednesday were not required to race a second run.
O'Dine will start Friday's race 11th in the starting order. The product of Tabor Mountain Ski Resort in Prince George began the week ranked seventh in the world standings with 1,440 points. Lyndsey Jacobellis, the defending world champion from the Stratton, Ver., is atop the leader board with 3,060 points.
In other Canadian results from Italy Thursday, Carle Brennaman of Comox was 11th; Zoe Bergermann of Erin Ont., was 14th; Tess Critchlow of Kelowna was 26th; Audrey McManiman of Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare, Que., was 30th; Kate Anderson of Jafray was 33rd; and Haily Moyer of King City, Ont., was 34th out of 37 racers.
In men's qualifying, Eliot Grondin of Ste-Marie, Que., finished ninth as the top Canadian. Omar Visintin of Italy won the qualifying round ahead of second-place Alex Pullin of Australia and third-place Jonathan Cheever of Park City, Utah.
In other Canadian results, Baptiste Brochu of Saguenay, Que., was 22nd; Kevin Hill of Vernon was 25th; Christopher Robanske of Calgary was 58th; and Danny Bourgeois of Rosemere, Que., was 68th out of 79 starters.of Rosemere, Que., was 68th out of 79 starters.
