January 4, 2007 (Rossland, B.C.) – It was a golden day for David Nighbor, who not only won the men’s 10-kilometre skate event, but also managed to clinch a spot in the Under- 23 World Championships in Tarvisio, Italy, January 29 to February 4.

The third stop of the 2006-07 Haywood NorAm Race Series is a qualifying event for the World Juniors and Under-23 World Championships, with many young Canadian hopefuls looking to grab a spot on the team.

Good conditions made for a quick track, with Nighbor, of North Bay, Ont., completing the race in 23 minutes 47 seconds, nearly half a second ahead of his nearest competitor.

“I was a bit nervous today because I was trying a new style,” said Nighbor. “I was trying to glide longer, and really focus on my own race rather than on my competitors. I think I skied a consistently strong race and it worked.”

Rounding out the men’s top three was Chris Jeffries, of Chelsea, Que., in second (24:24) and Brent McMurtry, of Calgary, in third (25:02).

On the women’s side, Britney Webster, of Duntroon, Ont., climbed to the top of the podium, finishing the five-kilometre race in 13:34. Madeleine Williams, of Edmonton, was second with a time of 14:05, while the bronze medal went to fellow Edmontonian Tara Whitten, in 14:17.

Hosting BC, which is part of the 2010 Legacies Now generously donated $10000 to Black Jack Cross Country Ski Club to help host the Haywood Securities NorAms. Black Jack Cross Country Ski Club greatly appreciated the grant funding provided by the Hosting BC program that helped make this event possible. The Hosting BC program and the Province of BC would like to thank the organizing committee and the many volunteers who have contributed to the success of this 2007 Haywood NorAm, U23 and Junior World Trials event.

Saturday’s race starts at 9:30 am and promises to be fast with a classic technique mass start Sprint race. Pleas check our website for more details of the race at www.skiblackjack.ca

Results

Elite Men’s Top-5

1. David Nighbor, North Bay, Ont., 23:47
2. Chris Jeffries, Gatineau, Que., 24:47
3. Brent McMurtry, Calgary, 25:02
4. Jesse Heckrop, Enderby, B.C., 25:04
5. Christopher Butler, Thunder Bay, Ont., 25:07

Elite Women’s Top-5

1. Britney Webster, Duntroon, Ont., 13:34
2. Madeleine Williams, Edmonton, 14:05
3. Tara Whitten, Edmonton, 14:17
4. Sarah Deitch, Fort Smith, N.W.T., 14:23
5. Shayla Swanson, Calgary, 14:29

Atoms Boys
1. Keiran Marchand

Atoms Girls
1. Holly Rimmer

Mini Midget Girls
1. Calena Marchand
2. Sarah Lawson
3. Hanna Thomson

Mini Midget Boys
1. Kyle Flatman
2. Mackenzie Gibson
3. Xander Sterpin

Pee Wee Girls
1. Sylvie LeDuc
2. Melissa Thielman

Midget Girls
1. Samantha Reid
2. Sierra Gibson
3. Susanne Fraser

Midget Boys
1. Spencer Jackson
2. Christian Gow
3. Stefan Sander-Green

Juvenile Girls
1. Samantha Hetherington
2. Freya Wasteneys
3. Breanne McClusky

Juvenile Boys
1. Aaron Gillmor
2. Pat Madden
3. Kurtis Wenzel

Junior Girls
1. Alison Clarke
2. Allison Dodds
3. Tana Chesham

Junior Boys
1. Scott Gow
2. Chris Borchert
3. Ryan Reid

Full results can be viewed here.