February 3, 2009 (Praz de Lys Sommand, France) – Canada’s next generation of Olympic heroes also enjoyed another stellar day at the Under-23 and Junior World Championships over in Praz de Lys Sommand, France – this time in the sprint racing. Four Canadian men all finished in the top-10 on Sunday in the Under-23 men’s sprints.

Alex Harvey, of St-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que., who narrowly missed the podium on Saturday, finished fifth in the classic-sprint race. Harvey, who won a World Cup bronze medal two weeks ago in Whistler, B.C., was joined in the top-10 by Toronto’s Len Valjas in sixth spot, Frederic Touchette, of St-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que. in eighth, and Calgary’s Brent McMurtry in 10th.

“This is a super strong group of guys that are always trying to push each other,” said Eric de Nys, coach of the development squad. “If one isn’t strong on any given day there is always another one there pushing through. These guys still have a lot of work left to do before being regulars on the World Cup, but they are definitely on the right track, and this really shows we have some depth to work with in our program over the next 10 years.” Simeon Hamilton was the lone American to qualify for the U23 top 30 finishing in 17th place.

Alysson Marshall, of Salmon Arm, B.C., was the top Canadian finishing in 13th spot in the women’s Under-23 sprint races. Canada’s Amanda Ammar, of Onoway, Alta., and Brittany Webster, of Caledon, Ont., also qualified for the heats, but were eliminated in the first round. For the USA Morgan Smyth was 12th, and Jennie Bender 24th.

Canada’s top juniors also hit the start line for the first time in France. Four of the eight Canadian men and women qualified for the finals. Julien Nury, of Quebec City, led the way in the men’s race with an eighth-place finish, while Graeme Killick, of Fort McMurray, Alta., was 14th. Calgary’s Marlis Kromm finished 22nd in the women’s race, while Heidi Widmer, of Banff, Alta., was 25th. For the USA Erik Bjornsen was 21st in the men’s sprint and for the USA women Sadie Bjornsen was 11th and Sophie Caldwell 17th.

Other junior results on Sunday included: Janelle Greer, of Whitehorse, Yukon, who finished 34th; and Catherine Auclair, of Mont Ste. Anne, Que., was 45th in the junior women’s category. Jesse Cockney, of Canmore, Alta., was 60th, while Ghislain De Laplante, of Quebec City, was 65th in junior men’s competition.

Complete U23 men’s results here
Complete U23 women’s results here
Complete Jr men’s results here
Complete Jr women’s results here