January 03, 2013 (Thunder Bay, ON) – It was a family affair at the first Haywood NorAm race of the New Year with Graham and Emily Nishikawa striking gold inthe men’s and women’s skiathlon races on Thursday in Thunder Bay, Ont.

Both skiing out of Whitehorse, Graham Nishikawa, 29, won the men’s 30-kilometre skiathlon with a time of 1:15:51.9, while his 23-year-old sister, Emily, won the women’s 15-kilometre race with a time of 43:50.5.

Men start... © Rodney Ruddock/Ski*go

The men’s skiathlon combines 15 kilometres of classic skiing followed by a skate skiing leg of the same the distance. Athletes enter a transition zone to change equipment between each leg with the clock still running.

Calgary’s 24-year-old Kevin Sandau edged out Graeme Killick, of Fort McMurray, for second spot. Sandau stopped the clock at 1:15:55.6, while Killick grabbed the bronze with a time of 1:15:55.7.

Emily Nishikawa leading 2nd lap © Rodney Ruddock/Ski*go

Emily Nishikawa, who posted her career-best World Cup finish prior to the holiday break in Canmore, will wear the Haywood NorAm leaders bib into the weekend with her victory in thewomen’s race. Nishikawa was joined on the women’s podium by Ottawa’s Alana Thomas, who finished in second place at 45:39.7, and Zoe Roy, of Canmore, Alta., who placed third at 45:44.9.

The Canadian Trials for the Under-23 and Junior World Championships are being held in conjunction with the Haywood NorAm Series in Thunder Bay, Ont.

Emily Nishikawa wins gold © Rodney Ruddock/Ski*go

Four Canadians punched their ticket to represent Canada at the World Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic at the end of the month. Two Thunder Bay athletes finished on top in the Under-23 division. Andrea Lee was the top Under-23 athlete in the women’s race with a time of 46:41.0, while Andy Shields was the top male Under-23 finisher at 1:17:13.0.

Two Saint-Ferréol-Les-Neiges ,Que. skiers –  Frederique Vezina and Raphael Couturier – won the junior races. Vezina won the junior women’s 10-kilometre skiathlon with a time of 30:41.5. Couturier captured the junior men’s crown after clocking a time of 52:24.5 in the 20-kilometre skiathlon.

The Haywood NorAms continue in Thunder Bay throughout the weekend.

Top-Five Women
1. Emily Nishikawa, Whitehorse, 43:50.5; 2. Alana Thomas, Ottawa, 45:39.7; 3. Zoe Roy, Canmore,Alta., 45:44.9; 4. Brittany Webster, Caledon, Ont., 46:28.3; 5. Erin Tribe,Thunder Bay, Ont., 46:39.4

Top-Five Men
1. Graham Nishikawa, Whitehorse, 1:15:51.9; 2. Kevin Sandau, Calgary, 1:15:55.6; 3. Graeme Killick, Fort McMurray, Alta., 1:15:55.7; 4. Michael Somppi, Thunder Bay, Ont., 1:15:57.6; 5. Brian McKeever, Canmore, Alta., 1:16:33.0

Complete results here.