March 21, 2019 (Gatineau, QC) – Sam Hendry of Canmore, won today’s Canadian Ski Championship “marathon”, a 50k classic style race that finished with the medalists separated by 3/10ths of a second. Nakkertok racer Dominique Moncion-Groulx, from Gatineau was 3rd.

There were 53 starters, but by the ½ way point that group had shrunk to seven contending for medals. It was a bit of a cat and mouse game over the next 20k, with the whole group sprinting the last hill. At the line, Hendry out-lunged his Canmore teammate, Ty Godfrey and Moncion-Groulx for the win.

Sam Hendry: “I was passed at the top of the last hill by Ty, but beat him to the line, in the finishing sprint”.

Dominique Moncion-Groulx:” It feels great to have my 1st individual, senior National podium, at home at Nakkertok”.

The Junior Men’s 30k saw Ottawa and Nakkertok’s, Pierre Grall-Johnson claim his 2nd gold of the championships. Earlier in the week he had won the 1.4 k sprint, this time it was the 30k mass start. Longueuil’s Pierrick Sarthou was 2nd and Ian Williams from Kelowna, B.C. was 3rd.

Grall-Johnson also won the overall aggregate award, as top junior male skier at the event.

Pierre Grall-Johnson: “I was super happy with the race, it’s great to get the second gold”

Thunder Bay’s, Alannah Maclean broke away from the pack with 3k to go, to win the Open Women’s 30k. There was close fight for silver, with Andrée-Anne Théberge of Quebec City beating Gina Cinelli of Revelstoke, by ½ a second at the line. The top local skier was Claire Grall-Johnson, sister of Pierre, in 9th.

Alannah Maclean: “It was fantastic, early I took it easy in the pack. When I started feeling good, I stepped up the pace a bit at the front and made a break with 4k to go for the win. I am very happy with how it went”.

Whitehorse skier Amanda Thompson battled it out with Revelstoke’s Beth Granstrom and won by just under a second, in the Junior Women’s 20k. Another Revelstoke skier, Elizabeth Elliott took the bronze.

Amanda Thompson: “The race went really well for me, it was my first 20k ever, and it was amazing to share the podium, with my Alberta World Cup Academy teammates”.

The top local skier was Tove Halvorsen, from Chelsea, in 8th.

Wednesday will be the last day of the Ski Championships with the long-distance races of the younger junior categories.

Complete Results here.