December 21, 2008 (Duntroon, ON) – With temps around -14 C another cold morning greeted racers on Sunday as they prepared for the final Haywood NorAm before the Christmas break. Overnight the second winter storm within three days dropped 10cm of fresh snow on cold dry snow and continued to fall on and off through the day. The men’s 30km mass start skate race got underway at 9am, followed by the women’s mass start 15km skate at 10am.
Graham Nishikawa of the NTDC Quebec won a hard fought race between the four men that broke away from the men’s field in a final sprint to cross the line just ahead of Alex Harvey (MSA) also from the training centre in Quebec. Right behind him were National Team members Dave Nighbor in third followed by Brent McMurty in fourth. Mono Nordic’s Jeff Ellis came through off the lead pace in 5th.
The women’s race was won by Madeleine Williams of Edmonton Nordic over the National team’s Brittany Webster also of the Highlands Trailblazers. The battle for the win after the first 3km was between Williams and Webster as yesterday’s winner Dasha Gaiaizova fell off the pace but finished a strong third. In fourth was Alexia Pichard-Jolicoeur of Mont-Ste Anne, followed by Andrea Dupont of the Rocky Mountain Racers.
Complete results will soon be available at www.zone4.ca
Unofficial (brief)
Men
1. Graham Nishikawa (Whitehorse) NTDC Quebec
2. Alex Harvey (MSA) NST Quebec
3. Dave Nighbor (North Bay) NST
4. Brent McMurtry (Foothills) NST
5. Jeff Ellis (Mono Nordic) APU-Elite
Women
1. Madeleine Williams (Edmonton) Fast Trax
2. Brittany Webster (Highlands) NST
3. Dasha Giaizova (Skielite)
4. Alexia Pichard-Jolicoeur (MSA)
5. Andrea Dupont (RMR)