January 23, 2012 (Canmore, AB) – Kevin Sandau (Foothills Nordic) took no prisoners on his way to victory in men’s pursuit start 15km skate on the final day of the Haywood NorAm Western Canadian Championships in Canmore. Sandau surged by a 1:12 to claim the victory over Graham Nishikawa of Whitehorse in second with day’s fastest time edging out Brent McMurtry (Foothills Nordic) in third.

McMurtry saw his 41-second lead evaporate but held on to third as he battled with Erik Carleton (Rocky Mountain Racers) in a photo-finish. Ivan Babikov (Foothills Nordic), who has been nursing his arm injured at the Tour de Ski, used the race as a tune up for he heads back to Moscow, Russia, for the World Cup races on Feb. 2.

In the women’s 10km race Alysson Marshall (Larch Hills Club) staved off a hard-charging Emily Nishikawa (Whitehorse) to take the win by 2s as Nishikawa clawed back 14s with the fastest time of the day but ran out of track. Amanda Ammar landed 3rd on the podium.

The top junior man was Geoffrey Richards of Black Jack (12th overall), followed by Raphaël Couturier of Skibec and David Palmer also of Black Jack. For the junior women it was Dahria Beatty of Whitehorse with her club team mate Janelle Greer in 2nd and Rocky Mountain Racers’ Marte Haakenstad Braaten in 3rd.

The NorAM circuit now turns east with a Mini-Tour near Cantley, Quebec, as part of the Eastern Canadian Championships Feb. 3-5.

With files from CCC.

Full results HERE