March 23, 2007 (Mont-Ste-Anne, Que.) – The 2007 Canadian Championships provided the perfect backdrop for the finale of the seven-race Madshus Sprint Series, Friday, in Mont-Ste-Anne, Que. Chandra Crawford and Dave Nighbor were crowned national champions in the sprint race, after a long day of competition.

Jetlag was not a factor for Crawford of Canmore, Alta., who arrived home from Europe Thursday, to compete in at the Canadian Championship events. The Olympic sprint champion knocked Montreal’s Dasha Gaiazova off the top spot on the podium for the first time this week, after winning both the free and classic races. Tasha Betcherman of Thunder Bay, Ont., picked up her second medal of these Championships, ending the day in the bronze medal position.

North Bay, Ont. native, Dave Nighbor, stepped up to top-spot in the men’s sprint, improving on his silver medal in the freestyle race, Tuesday. Graham Nishikawa of Whitehorse, Yukon, was runner-up for the second race in a row, followed by Chris Jeffries of Chelsea, Que., in third.

Athletes have been participating in the seven-race Madshus Sprint series throughout the season, and titles were also handed out to the top man and woman, based on their best four finishes throughout the season.

Heading into the final race, Phil Widmer of Canmore, Alta., held a 22-point lead over Stephan Kuhn, also of Canmore, with 102 points. On the women’s side, Sarah Daitch of Fort Smith, N.W.T. was comfortably in the lead with 110 points, 24 points ahead of her closest competitor, Alberta’s Shayla Swanson. Both Widmer, who finished fifth in today’s race, and Daitch, who finished 13th, had enough points to solidify their titles.

Racing continues in Mont-Ste-Anne with the mass start on Sunday.

Open Men
1. Dave Nighbor, North Bay, Ont.
2. Graham Nishikawa, Whitehorse, Yukon
3. Chris Jeffries, Chelsea, Que.

Men’s Madshus Sprint Series Winners
1. Phil Widmer, Canmore, Alta.
2. Brent McMurtry, Calgary
3. Stephan Kuhn, Canmore, Alta.

Junior Men
1. Alex Harvey, St.-Ferreol les Neiges, Que.
2. Lenes Haakon, Calgary
3. Frédéric Touchette, St.-Ferreol les Neiges, Que.

Open Women
1. Chandra Crawford, Canmore, Alta.
2. Dasha Gaiazova, Montreal
3. Tasha Betcherman, Thunder Bay, Ont.

Women’s Madshus Sprint Series Winners
1.Sarah Daitch, Fort Smith, N.W.T.
2. Perianne Jones, Ottawa
3. Shayla Swanson, Alberta

ParaNordic Men
1. Tyler Mosher, B.C.
2. Alexei Navikov, Ontario
3. Jerry King, Ontario

ParaNordic Women
1. Robbi Weldon, Thunder Bay, Ont.
2. Courtney Knight, B.C.
3. Mary Benson, B.C.

ParaNordic Men’s Sit-ski
1. Lou Gibson, Vancouver

ParaNordic Women’s Sit-ski
1. Colette Bourgojne, Saskatoon
2. Joan Reid, B.C.
3. Kelsi Paul, Saskatoon