March 25, 2007 – The nation’s top nordic skiers embarked on a marathon to end the 2007 Canadian Championships. David Nighbor, of North Bay, Ont., took home national bragging rights in the men’s 50-kilometre skate race after posting a time of 2:01:50.0. Dan Roycroft, of Port Sydney, Ont., finished on Nighbor’s heels in second (2:01:50.2), while Chris Jeffries, of Chelsea, Que., wrapped up third after stopping the clock at 2:01:50.5.

In the women’s 30-kilometre skate race, it was Oregon’s Evelyn Dong who set the leading time at 1:23:11.4. The top three Canadians on the day included: Dasha Gaiazova at 1:23:23.4; Tasha Betcherman, of Thunder Bay, Ont., at 1:23:23.7; and Edmonton’s Madeleine Williams, who posted a time of 1:23:59.8.

The next generation of cross-country skiers also put on a show at the national spectacle. Alex Harvey, of Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que., whose season was highlighted with a bronze-medal performance at the World Junior Championships earlier this month, took home the gold in the junior men’s 30-kilometre race with a time of 1:13:30.2. Brittany Webster, of Caledon, Ont., won the junior women’s 15-kilometre discipline after crossing the line with a time of 40:20.5.

The Canadian Championships results can be viewed at www.zone4.ca.