December 6, 2008 (Sovereign Lakes, BC) – Canada’s Alex Harvey sprinted his way into the winner’s circle at the Haywood NorAm Series at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Club near Vernon, B.C. on Saturday. Harvey was also the top qualifier of the day by a margin of 2.09 seconds.

“It was a great race today and a solid start to the season,” said Eric de Nys, development team coach, Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team in a CCC release. “The conditions were not typical early-season conditions here at Sovereign Lake, but it was a great first day of racing for the season.”

The US Ski Team’s Laura Valaas cruised easily to victory in the A-final with a 4-5 ski length lead over the day’s top qualifier Milaine Theriault of Foothills Nordic. After retiring from the National team a couple of years ago, Theriault – a three-time Olympian – went back to school and has mostly skied loppets. Now making a comeback she demonstrated today that she is in good form and can also sprint!

“I am really happy with my result today considering I didn’t even plan to race the sprints,” said Theriault, the three-time Olympian who is beginning her quest back to qualify for Canada’s World Cup squad. “I’m in good shape and really looking forward to skiing the distance races tomorrow.”

Harvey, who is entering his rookie season on the World Cup team, won three medals at the World Junior Championships during his two seasons of racing as a junior. Crossing the line in second behind Harvey was SkiTrax contributor, Jeff Ellis, of the Mono Nordic Ski Club and APU Ski Team. In third was National Team member Brent McMurtry. On the womens side in third behind Valaas and Theriault was Shayla Swanson of the Alberta World Cup Academy.

Canada’s Para-Nordic team was also in action on Saturday in the B.C. interior. Five-time Paralympian, Colette Bourgonje, of Saskatoon, won the sit-ski category. Mark Arendz, of Springton, P.E.I., was first to cross the line in the standing men’s division, while Robbi Thunder Bay, Ont., captured top prize in the standing womens category.

Day two of the Haywood NorAm series at Soveriegn Lakes will go tomorrow as a 10km/15km free technique race. The event was originally scheduled to be classic but was switched to skate to accommodate the low snow levels.

Complete results can be found here.

Results (Brief)

Men

1. Alex Harvey (Can)
2. Jeff Ellis (Can
3. Brent McMurtry (Can)
4. Anders Haugen (USA)
5. George Grey (Can)

Women

1. Laura Valaas (USA)
2. Milaine Theriault (Can)
3. Shayl Swanson (Can)
4. Brooke Gosling (Can)
5. Rhonda Jewett (Can)