January 4, 2009 (Canmore, AB) – Dave Nighbor of the National Ski team and Madeleine Williams of Edmonton Nordic have won Sunday’s 15km and 10km skate races respectively on day two at round #3 of the Haywood NorAm Series in Canmore. For the juniors and U23 athletes this was a qualifying event for their upcoming respective World Championships. For the senior athletes today was another NorAm series race including tomorrow’s 15km and 30km Pursuit race which was rescheduled from Friday due to cold weather.

“It was a pretty good day and I skied very consistent which you have to do out here,” said Nighbor, who is the top-ranked man in the country on the Haywood NorAm Series, North America’s premier development race series. “You have to be cautious out here because the hills are so steep and long. This is a big week for sure and there is always pressure on everyone for tomorrow’s (World Championship) qualifier race,” said Nighbor. “I was a little nervous today to find out where my shape is. I’m looking forward to tomorrow which is the one that really matters.”

David Greer of NTDC Quebec was the top junior man finishing 11th overall, and Marlis Kromm of the Alberta World Cup Academy was the top junior woman finishing 6th overall. Len Valjas of NTDS Quebec was the top U23 male finishing 3rd overall and Amanda Ammar of the National team was the top U23 female and was second overall to Williams.

“It was a good solid effort for sure,” said the 25-year-old Williams, who will be suiting up for Canada at the World Cup at Whistler Olympic Park in mid-January. “It is really big to get this experience on the top course in the country to help prepare for the World Cup.”

Race time temperatures hovered around -9 C (15 F) with a strong wind out of the north greeting the athletes as they lapped through the stadium heading back out on course. The women completed three laps of 3.3 km, and the men four laps of 3.75km on the Centennial course. Up next for the athletes will be the Pursuit tomorrow, followed by the 1.7km classic sprints on January 6.

Full results here

Results (brief)

Women

1. Madeleine Williams (Edmonton Nordic) Team Fast Trax
2. Amanda Ammar (Edmonton) NST
3. Rhonda Jewett (Foothills) AB WC Academy
4. Sara Hewitt (Foothills) AB WC Academy
5. Aimee Watson (Ski Australia) Australia Ski Team

Men

1. Dave Nighbor (North Bay) NST
2. Graham Nishikawa (Whitehorse XC) NTDC Quebec
3. Len Valjas (Hardwood) NTDC Quebec
4. Brendan Green (Hay River) National Biathlon Team
5. Frederic Touchette (MSA) NST – Quebec