January 09, 2014  (Canmore, AB) – While Olympic Selection was a top focus of the trials, today’s races also served as selection races for the U23/Junior World Championships in Val di Fiemme, Italy, January 27th to February 3rd.

In trial races to date, Katherine Stewart-Jones of Nakkertok and Scott Hill of Team Hardwood have been selected for the junior team and Patrick Stewart-Jones (Katherine’s brother) and Heidi Widmer of Foothills Nordic have been selected for the U23 Championships. Previous Team Nomination Document

Patrick Stewart Jones © Angus Cockney

The men’s 15k was being used as the 3rd of the U23 selection races and Patrick Stewart-Jones was again the top U23 athlete in 6th overall, with his club team mates Zeke Williams and Sébastien Townsend joining him on the U23 podium. Patrick’s win means that there aren’t any direct qualifiers for the men’s team from that event.

In the women’s 10k Foothills racer Heidi Widmer continued her top level performances from yesterday’s sprint, finishing 5th overall, just behind 4th.  Fondeurs-Laurentides skiers Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt and Cendrine Browne completed the U23 podium for today’s race and established themselves as firm favourites to join Widmer on the U23 team later in the month.

Heidi Widmen © Peachell Photography

The Junior skiers raced 5 and 10k classic and it was expected to be a case of you win and you are in for World Junior team selection. Please consult the NST Selection Criteria for the precise official requirements.

Anne-Marie Comeau of Mont Ste. Anne had a fairly comfortable win over Katherine Stewart-Jones of Nakkertok, and Comeau’s club team mate Frédérique Vézina. The win will likely ensure Comeau will be named to the World Junior team.

On the men’s side Ben Wilkinson-Zan of Nakkertok won by a 30 second margin over Matthew Saurette of Rocky Mtn. Racers. This should assure Wilkinson-Zan a ticket to Italy. Alexis Dumas of Skibec was 3rd.
Official Results

There is now a rest day in the Haywood NorAm schedule and all categories reconvene at the race site on Saturday for Free Technique sprints, presented by Buff.