January 27, 2007 (Canmore, Alta.) – Brittany Webster’s return ticket to Canada from the recently cancelled Junior and Under-23 World Championships in Europe turned to gold on Saturday after the Ontario teen was the first to cross the finish line in the women’s 10-kilometre skate event at the Haywood NorAm race in Canmore, Alta.

The 19-year-old from Duntroon, Ont., who got off to a slow start due to some heavy training over the last week, dug deep to overcome the gruelling 10-kilometre march through the picturesque World Cup track at the Canmore Nordic Centre, to post a winning time of 29 minutes 21.8 seconds.

“It was definitely painful out there today,” said Webster, who thought her race was finished in the first two kilometres after falling well back of the leaders. “I just got back from Europe and wasn’t expecting much, so I just thought my performance was going down hill from the start, but I was able to pull it out so I’m happy.”

Webster and the rest of Canada’s top young cross-country skiers were scheduled to be measuring their paces against the best junior and under-23 skiers on the globe at the World Championships this week in Italy, but the lack of snow which has been the story of the winter in Europe, forced the Canadians back home for a series of domestic races.

“It is a little discouraging to get over there and not be able to race because I have no idea right now where I stand internationally,” said Webster, who believes the team will still be able to go back in March and get the races done. “It is just so nice to be able to come home and get on some good conditions, so I was excited to be back.”

With plenty of cold and hard-packed snow to take advantage of in Alberta, Webster grabbed her second NorAm title in January, crossing the line nearly 10 seconds ahead of Montreal’s Dasha Gaiazova, who settled for the silver medal. Tasha Betcherman, of Thunder Bay, Ont., rounded out the podium in third.

Canada’s top men’s skiers were also getting some final tune-up races under their legs before heading to Japan for the World Championships, and then over to Europe for the remainder of the World Cup season.

George Grey, of Rossland, B.C., also skated his way to the top step of the men’s podium after cruising through the 15-kilometre Nordic Centre track with a time of 34:42.4. The next closest competitor to the 26-year-old Olympian was Calgary’s Erik Carleton, who was just over 24 seconds off the pace. Grey’s Olympic teammate, Drew Goldsack, of Red Deer, Alta., finished in third +30.6 seconds behind.

Women

1. Brittany Webster, Duntroon, Ont., 29:21.8
2. Dasha Gaiazova, Montreal, +9.8
3. Tasha Betcherman, Thunder Bay, Ont., +21.9
4. Madeleine Williams, Edmonton, +50.0
5. Brooke Gosling, Calgary, +1:27.8.

Men

1. George Grey, Rossland, B.C., 34:52.4
2. Erik Carleton, Calgary, +24.3
3. Drew Goldsack, Red Deer, Alta., +30.6
4. Brian McKeever, Canmore, Alta., +41.6
5. Dan Roycroft, Port Sydney, Ont., +44.5.