March 19, 2010 (Whitehorse, Yukon) – It was a case of opposites in today’s senior classes at the Tech Sprint, part of the 2010 Haywood Ski Nationals in Whitehorse. Chandra Crawford of Canmore Nordic showed she’s returning to form as one of the fastest, free technique sprinters in the world, with a comfortable victory over fellow 2010 Olympian, Madeleine Williams in the women’s 1.2km sprint finals.

Shayla Swanson and Brooke Gosling of Foothills Nordic were 3rd and 4th, Alysson Marshal of Larch Hills and Rhonda Jewett rounded out the A final with 5th and 6th place results. Crawford’s victory puts her one more point ahead of Madeleine Williams.

The men’s 1.2km sprint final was a close race as top qualifier Sean Crooks from Big Thunder, led for most of the way only to be edged out in a photo finish, by Team Hardwood’s Len Valjas. Brent McMurtry of Foothills Nordic took the bronze medal with Frederic Touchette of Mont Ste. Anne in 4th, Canmore’s Stefan Kuhn in 5th and Skibec’s Julien Nury in 6th.

It was a day with lots of spills and drama and this was evident in the Jr. Women’s race as Heidi Widmer of Foothills was leading the A final until the last 80 meters, where she lost a pole to settle for 4th place out of the medals. Earlier Widmer had finished a very close second to Crawford in sprint qualifications.

The Canadian championship title went to Rebbeca Reid of BC’s Black Jack ski club, with Marlis Kromm from Foothills claiming the silver medal and Whitehorse’s Dahria Beatty taking the bronze in 3rd. Emily Chartrand of Mt Ste. Anne finished 4th and Kara Jaspers of Thunder Bay 5th.

Etienne Richard from Skibec solidified his aggregate lead in the Junior men’s class leading from start to finish to capture the gold. Joey Burton from Overlander ski club in BC was the silver medalist and Bob Thompson from Hardwood was third.  Andy Shields from Warterloo, Ontario finished 4th, Nakkertok’s Andrew Stewart-Jones finished 5th, and Benjamin Hebert from Skielite was 6th

Qualifications

In some tight racing in the 1.2km Open Women’s qualifications, Canmore Nordic’s Chandra Crawford, narrowly beat out junior Heidi Widmer from Foothills Nordic with Widmer’s senior category teammates Brook Gosling and Rhonda Jewett finishing 3rd and 4th overall. Madeline Williams from Edmonton Nordic was 5th and Alysson Marshall from Larch Hills, BC finished 6th.

Following Heidi Widmer in the Junior Women’s class was Dahria Beatty from Whitehorse in second; Nakkertok’s Michelle Workun-Hill in third. Foothills Nordic also claimed 4th with Marlis Kromm and Kara Jaspers of Big Thunder Ski Club, Thunder Bay came 5th.

Unofficially in the Men’s events there were changes at the top in an exceptionally tight race as sprint specialist Sean Crooks from Big Thunder Ski Club, finished as the first qualifier 4/100ths ahead of Julien Nury of Skibec.  Team Hardwood’s Len Valjas was only another 0.5 seconds back in third, followed a second later by Olympic 2010 sprinter Brent McMurtry from Foothills Nordic and another Team Hardwood sprinter, Harry Seaton in 5th.

The Junior Men’s class saw BC skier Joey Burton from Overlander Ski Club in Kamloops claiming the top qualifying position, followed by Quebec skiers Etienne Richard of Skibec and Benjamin Hebert of Skiélite. Colin Abbot of Whitehorse and Andy Shields of Waterloo in Ontario rounded out the 4th and 5th qualifying positions.

Results

Women’s Qualifications here.
Men’s Qualifications here.

Full Results (when available) here.