February 22, 2003 (Val di Fiemme, Italy) – Beckie Scott, of the Canadian National Cross Country Ski team, was a 1.5 seconds from winning today's double pursuit ski race at the World Nordic Ski Championships held in Val di Fiemme, Italy.

In an exciting final dash between six skiers, Scott, who won Canada's first Olympic medal in the same-day pursuit last February, finished 6th in 26:39.9. After leading for much of the second leg, the Vermillion-native was overtaken at the end by the swarm of pursuing racers. The event, which combines a 5 km classic mass start race and a 5 km freestyle race separated only by an equipment exchange zone, was inaugurated into the World Cup schedule last March in Falun, Sweden. Today marks the first time this race has been a part of the World Championships program.

The gold medal this morning went to Estonia's Kristina Smigun in 26:38.4. After settling for silver repeatedly throughout the season, Smigun was more than determined to win today’s event. The silver medal was split between Germany's young dynamite racer Evi Sachenbacher and Russian veteran racer Olga Savialova in 26:39.0. Missing the podium by half a second came Norway's Hilde Pedersen, who collected a bronze in Thursday's 10 km classic. Olympic medallist Gabriella Paruzzi was a split second behind, followed by Scott.

Fellow teammate Sara Renner, who has been steadily improving all season-long, also skied a tremendous race to come in 17th in 27:15.9. Thunder Bay's Tasha Betcherman, who is participating in her first World Championships, crossed the line in 29:40.9 to finish 55th. There were 69 racers competing today.

The World Championships will continue tomorrow with the men's 10 km classic/ 10 km skate double pursuit race.

The Canadian Senior National Cross Country Ski Team is supported in their international racing pursuits by Haywood Securities.

CCC is the national sport governing body for cross-country skiing in Canada, servicing over 45,000 members in 375 clubs. The corporate vision: “It takes a ski community to raise Olympic medallists”, embraces the Association's focus from entry level club development to the enhancement of the National Ski Team program.

Results:
1) Kristina Smigun EST 26:38.4
2) Evi Sachenbacher GER 26:39.0
2) Olga Savialova RUS 26:39.0
4) Hilde Pedersen NOR 26:39.5
5) Gabriella Paruzzi ITA 26:39.6
6) Beckie Scott CAN 26:39.9
7) Elena Burukina RUS 26:41.3
8) Svetlana Nageikina BLR 26:43.5
9) Valentina Shevchenko UKR 26:48.1
10) Petra Majdic SLO 26:50.9

Canadians:
17) Sara Renner CAN 27:15.9
55) Tasha Betcherman CAN 29:40.7

For complete race results: www.fis-ski.com