February 5, 2012 (Cantley, Quebec) – Alysson Marshall (Larch Hills) and Graham Killick (Banff Ski Runners) bided their time before putting the hammer down to claim the Minitour overall following the 15/30km CL pursuit-start races on the final day at the Haywood NorAm Eastern Championships in Cantley, Quebec. Skiers were treated to cloudy skies and and brisk temperatures at -11 degrees C.

Killick was off the mark first in the pursuit-style race followed by Kevin Sandau of Foothills at 8s with Jesse Cockney also from Foothills in tow. Series leader Brent McMurtry (Foothills) and Canmore’s Pate Neumann chased from behind.

Cockney fell back as McMurtry took over third around the halfway point but he could not bridge to the leaders as Killick attacked on the final descent pulling away from Sandau to claim the minitour title. McMurtry landed third on the overall podium with the fastest time of the day as Cockney was fourth, the top U23 skier, and Neumann fifth.

Marshall controlled the women’s race dropping Emily Nishikawa (Whitehorse) on the last lap to win the Minitour by almost half a minute. Kate Brennan (Kanata Nordic) held off a hard-charging Brittany Webster (Highlands Trailblazers) for third with Foothills Sarah Hewitt in fourth. Webster had the best time of the day by a slim margin of 0.3s over Marshall.

Raphael Couturier (Skibec) was the top junior male finishing 10th overall, followed by Knute Johnsgaard (Whitehorse) in second (14th), and Alexis Turgeon (Skinouk) was third (18th). Anne-Marie Comeau (Mt Ste Anne) was the Junior Women’s winner followed by Michelle Hill (Workun) and MSA’s Camille Pepin in third.

Full results HERE,
Minitour Results HERE.