March 15, 2007 – Canada’s young cross-country team is finding their legs and gaining speed at the FIS Nordic Under-23 World Championships in Tarvisio, Italy. Two members of the Canadian squad found their way into the top-20, with David Nighbor and Amanda Ammar posting matching 18th-place finishes in the Under-23 Championships on Thursday in Tarvisio, Italy.

Ammar, of Onoway, Alta., put together her strongest performance of the week, crossing the line with a time of 25 minutes 42.2 seconds, just over a minute behind Switzerland’s Silvana Bucher, the winner of the ladies 10-kilometre free with a time of 24:28.1. Perianne Jones, of Almonte, Ont., was the only other Canadian in the women’s race, finishing in 33rd-place (26:16.0).

Joining Bucher on the podium in the silver medal position was Sofia Bleckur, of Sweden, with a time of 24:47.7. Marina Piller, of Italy, thrilled the hometown crowd with her bronze medal showing, stopping the clock at 24:49.0.

The Canadian U23 men’s team also had their strongest performance of the competition. David Nighbor, of North Bay, Ont., and Brent McMurty, of Calgary, were 18th (37:17.4) and 21st (34:24.2), respectively, in the men’s 15-kilometre free. Chris Butler, of Thunder Bay, Ont., was 39th (38:42.8), and Jesse Heckrodt, of Enderby, Alta., was 52nd (39:50.4).

The winner in the men’s race was Dario Cologna, of Switzerland, who completed the Italian layout in a time of 34:57.0. Russia’s Illia Chernousov was the runner-up, at 35:44.2, while rounding out the podium was Nobu Naruse, of Japan, with a time of 35:46.7.

The Canadian Junior Team will be back on snow Friday at the 2007 FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships, in Italy.

Cross Country Canada is the governing body of cross-country skiing in Canada. Its 45,000 members are athletes, coaches and officials, including members of the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team and Canadian ParaNordic Cross-Country Ski Team. Cross-country skiing is Canada’s optimal winter sport and recreational activity with more than one million Canadians participating annually.

For full results please visit <http://www.jwsc2007.com/Mondiali_Juniores/index.php?op=135>http://www.jwsc2007.com/Mondiali_Juniores/index.php?op=135

Women

1. Silvana Bucher, SUI, 24:28.1
2. Sofia Bleckur, SWE, 24:47.7
3. Marina Piller, ITA, 24:49.0
4. Alena Prochazkova, SVK, 24:57.8
5. Ioulia Tchekaleva, RUS, 24:58.1

18. Amanda Ammar, Onoway, Alta., 25:42.2
33. Perianne Jones, Almonte, Ont., 26:16.0

Men
1. Dario Cologna, SUI, 34:57.0
2. Illia Chernousov, RUS, 35:44.2
3. Nobu Naruse, JPN, 35:46.7
4. Maurice Manificat, FRA, 35:52.6
5. Curdin Perl, SUI, 35:57.2

18. David Nighbor, North Bay, Ont., 37:17.4
21. Brent McMurtry, Calgary, 37:24.2
39. Christopher Butler, Thunder Bay, Ont., 38:42.8
52. Jesse Heckrodt, Enderby, Alta., 39:50.4