December 01, 2012 (Canmore. AB) – Canada grabbed two spots on the women’s podium in the first sprint race of the Haywood NorAm Series on Saturday in Canmore, Alta. Andrea Dupont and Kate Brennan sprinted to the silver and bronze medals respectively behind Switzerland’s Bettina Gruber, who was using the NorAm season-opener as a tune-up for the back-to-back World Cup races in Quebec City and at the Canmore Nordic Centre starting next week.

Canada’s development level athletes were in tough with a Swiss team on the start line, and hungry for the podium. Elgius Tambornino finished on top, while Jovien Hediger was second and Christop Eigenmann completed the podium sweep for Team Switzerland in third.

Phil Widmer, of Banff, Alta., was the top Canadian male in fifth spot. Jesse Cockney, of Canmore, Alta., also made the sprint final and finished sixth.

“It was a really good day of racing under excellent conditions, and the Swiss elevated the competition today,” said Tom Holland, high-performance director. “This is a really competitive NorAm because it is serving as a selections race for the chance to race the World Cups.”

Russell Kennedy, of Canmore, Alta., and Heidi Widmer, of Banff, Alta., snagged the first men’s and women’s’ spots to compete in the sprint races in Quebec City and Canmore after finishing as the top Canadians in the qualifying round on Saturday.

The Canmore stop of the Haywood NorAm Series wraps up on Sunday when Cross Country Canada will name the final Canadian members that will receive a start bib at the highly-anticipated World Cup stops in Quebec City and Canmore, Alta.

Results (brief)

Women
1. Bettina Gruber, SUI
2. Andrea Dupont, CAN
3. Kate Brennan, CAN
4. Maya-MacIsaac-Jones, CAN
5. Marlis Kromm, CAN

Men
1. Eligius Tambornino, SUI
2. Jovien Hediger, SUI
3. Christoph Eigenmann, SUI
4. Jori Kindschi,SUI
5. Phil Widmer, CAN

Full results HERE.