January 08, 2011 (Thunder Bay, ON) –  The Teck Sprint series arrived at the Lappe Nordic Ski Center as day two of the Haywood NorAm World U23/Junior trials continued with the classic sprints. A newly designed course used technical corners followed by a striding uphill section normally reserved for distance races.

A total of 310 athletes from all age categories toed the line for the qualification rounds in temperatures hovering near -20 C. The mid-morning sun warmed up the track to – 10 degrees offering competitors some relief from the morning chill. The course well liked by the skiers and took its toll with its long length and hill climb on the second half of the course.

In the senior Men’s category National Ski team member Brent McMurtry took the win over Stefan Kuhn and Jess Cockney who also took the top U/23 honors, thus earning him a spot on the team heading to the World U/23 Championships in Otepaa, Estonia .

In the Senior Women’s category Dasha Gaiazova continued a 6-race winning streak at Lappe which started in 2006 at the Canadian National Ski championships. ”I am really happy to have won today. Thunder Bay is a great place for me, the last time I was here I won every race. I am excited for  Sunday’s event.”

Current NorAm leader Perianne Jones took the silver  while Alysson Marshall doubled as the bronze medalist and the top women’s U/23 athlete.

Cockney and Marshall’s top finishes put them in position to go to the U23 World Championships in Estonia provided they meet international performance selection standards set by Cross Country Canada.

Heidi Widmer was the top Junior female making it two-for-two on the weekend. Patrick Stewart-Jones was the top Junior male adding his name along with Widmer to the Junior Worlds team.

The racing continues on Sunday with a middle distance skate race which will be the final qualifier for the Senior women for the Canadian team heading to the World Championship in Oslo, Norway. Sunday will be the last chance for the Junior and U23 categories to qualify for their respective World Championships in Estonia.

Dave Dyer, the CCC Race Director, commented that it had been a long time since he had seen a full day of sprints go off without a hitch. One of the jury members was complaining (with a smile) that there was nothing for them to do. The team did a fantastic job and Gaiazova had nothing but praise as well for the organizers.

Women’s Sprint final results HERE http://www.zone4.ca/results.asp?ID=3341&cat=541
Men’s Sprint final results HERE http://www.zone4.ca/results.asp?ID=3341&cat=543

Results (brief)

Senior Women

1.    Dasha Gaiazova     Rocky Mountain Racers     NST     A Final     03:16.9
2.    Perianne Jones     Nakkertok     NST     A Final     03:15.8
3.    Alysson Marshall     Larch Hills     AWCA/BCST     A Final     03:24.4
4.    Emily Nishikawa     Whitehorse     AWCA     A Final     03:28.9
5.    Sarah Daitch     Fort Smith Ski Club      Rocky Mountain Racers     A Final     03:27.8
6.    Brittany Webster     Highlands Trailblazers     AWCA     A Final     03:31.0
7.    Catherine Auclair     Club Nordique M.S.A.     CNEPH     B Final     03:27.7
8.    Alana Thomas     Nakkertok         B Final     03:31.9
9.    Andrea Lee     Strathcona Nordic     NDC Thunder Bay     B Final     03:31.0
10.    Andrea Dupont     Rocky Mountain Racers     Rocky Mountain Racer     B Final     03:23.9
11.    Erin Tribe     Team Hardwood     NDC Thunder Bay     B Final     03:29.1

Senior Men

1.    Brent McMurtry     Foothills         A Final     03:44.2
2.    Stefan Kuhn     Canmore Nordic     NST     A Final     03:41.9
3.    Jess Cockney     Foothills     AWCA     A Final     03:46.8
4.    Graham Nishikawa     Whitehorse     AWCA     A Final     03:45.8
5.    Len Valjas     Team Hardwood         A Final     03:38.2
6.    Philip Widmer     Canmore Nordic     CNEPH/NST Development      A Final     03:43.7
7.    Frédéric Touchette     Club Nordique M.S.A.     CNEPH     B Final     03:50.1
8.    Graeme Killick     Banff Ski Runners     NST     B Final     03:51.7
9.    Michael Somppi     Lappe Nordic     NDC Thunder Bay     B Final     03:47.6
10.    Harry Seaton     Team Hardwood     NDC Thunder Bay     B Final     03:45.0
11.    David Greer     Whitehorse     CNEPH     B Final     03:50.7
12.    Andrew Stewart-Jones     Club Nakkertok Nordique     CNEPH     B Final     03:51.6