March 23, 2013 (Whistler Olympic Park, BC) – Crowds of spectators turned out on a bluebird day to watch the 2013 Haywood Ski Nationals’ first race, the team sprint, at Whistler Olympic Park in Callaghan Valley, and they were not disappointed. There were a total of 173 teams of two racers across six categories.

Cockney © Jim Hegan

Four rising stars in the sport of cross-country skiing captured the first titles of the weeklong Haywood Ski Nationals on Saturday at Whistler Olympic Park.

Jesse Cockney, of Canmore, Alta., joined forces with Calgary’s Brent McMurtry to successfully defend their title in the men’s skate-ski team sprint. Calgary’s Marlis Kromm and Heidi Widmer, of Banff, Alta., paired up to win the gold in the women’s team sprint race.

The 23-year-old Cockney and McMurtry, 26, had their hands full in the men’s final, but picked a line down the finishing stretch and held on to win for the second straight year.

McMurtry © Jim Hegan

“Brent was the key to the victory today. He skied so strong,” said Cockney. “You have to really stay calm and relaxed in the team sprint because you are going six rounds before it is done. This is a great way to start Nationals.”

The Alberta boys were sandwiched between two teams from Whitehorse on the men’s podium. David Greer and Knute Johnsgaard locked up the silver medal. Colin Abbott and Graham Nishikawa skied to the bronze.

Meanwhile, two of Canada’s top skiers on the Haywood NorAm circuit, 22-year-old Heidi Widmer, of Banff, Alta., and Calgary’s 23-year-old Marlis Kromm, got off to a perfect start at the National dance, winning the women’s team sprint crown.

Heidi Widmer © Jim Hegan

“The team race can be hard for sprinters (because of the distance) so you have to ski good technically and efficiently,” said Widmer. “The conditions were good but they were getting soft. The volunteers did a great job today.”

The Alberta duo plans to build on this strong performance. “Our big goal today was to start under control and punch it on the second and third rounds,” added Kromm. “We are going to race everything this week. This was a great start.” Ontario’s Mary Thompson and Erin Tribe celebrated the silver, while Alberta’s Michaela Howie and Zoe Roy rounded out the women’s podium in third.

Kromm © Jim Hegan

Earlier in the day the Canadian College and University Championship team sprint began the competitions. Thirteen women and men’s teams raced the course with a win for Lakehead University in both categories.

Alannah Maclean and Andrea Lee won the women’s side with a time of 15 minutes and 31 seconds. Silver went to Catherine Auclair and Myriam Paquette of L’Universite Laval in a time of 15:33. Carleton University’s Ingrid Hagberg and Kendra Murray took bronze in a time of 15:36.

On the Men’s side, the University of Augustana’s Ragnar Robinson and Lukas Mark blocked a podium sweep by Lakehead University by sliding into bronze with a time of 16:22.9, just .5 seconds behind Scott Hill and Leif Lennie, who took silver. Lakehead’s Victor Hopper and Harry Seaton won the gold in a time of 16 minutes and 16 seconds.

The Haywood Ski Nationals continue on Sunday with the short distance races.

Complete Haywood Ski Nationals results HERE.