December 20, 2004 – Canada’s Chris Jeffries and Milaine Theriault stomped down some early season authority against most of the nation’s elite cross-country ski racers this week, winning their fourth gold medal each at the Haywood NorAm event in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Que. on Sunday.

Jeffries of Chelsea, Que., who competed on the World Cup during the second half of last season, handily won the men’s 15-kilometre free technique event in a time of 33 minutes 23.7 seconds to claim his fourth distance title of the week in Quebec.

“Skiing just seems automatic for me right now. I can start hard and finish hard and that is a great feeling,” said Jeffries who is likely to be selected to Canada’s World Championship team this week based on his performance. “I am more steady in my racing now than I have been, and that is due to my training this summer. I am very excited for the second half of the season, most importantly World Championships, but right now I can’t wait to get home and have a little holiday break.”

Joining Jeffries on the podium was Gordon Jewett of Toronto. Jewett, who captured the Madshus sprint title earlier this week, completed the Mont-Sainte-Anne track in a time of 34:17.4 to claim the silver medal. Dave Nighbor of North Bay, Ont., a rookie on the national senior team, claimed the final spot on the podium with a time of 34:33.0.

While Chris Jeffries was making a familiar trip to the podium on Sunday, so to was Milaine Theriault of St. Quentin, N.B. The three-time Olympian, who has been competing on the nation’s premiere development circuit over the last two years after having a baby, is showing signs she is set to compete once again against the world’s elite racers. The 31-year-old also captured her fourth title of the week after winning the women’s 10-kilometre free technique with a time of 23:54.8.

“I am racing stronger right now than I was last year, but I’m not in my peak form quite yet,” said Theriault, who added it was good racing conditions on Sunday despite a trace of fresh snow. “My goal this season was to get back to the World Cup and World Championships. I am ready to race against those faster women now, but I had to get the job done this week first.”

Tara Whitten of Edmonton was the next fastest athlete behind Theriault, crossing the line in a time of 24:15.5, while Dasha Gaiazova of Montreal won the bronze medal after clocking a time at 24:50.9

Sunday’s event, loaded with the countries top skiers not at the World Cup, marked the completion of five races, which are being used to determine Canada’s team at February’s World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany. Cross Country Canada is expected to name the team early this week.