December 3, 2005 (Canmore, Alta.) – Canada’s Phil Widmer won his first ever Haywood NorAm race, while Beckie Scott sprinted her way into familiar territory on top of the podium at a Haywood NorAm event on the World Cup track in Canmore, Alta. today.

Widmer, of Banff, Alta., made his first tracks to the top step of the podium in the sprint discipline at the second Haywood NorAm event of the season. In just two races, the 22-year-old Widmer is proving he is one of the top up-and-comers in the sport. He also claimed a silver medal last weekend at the season opener in British Columbia.

“It’s nice to finally have a win – I came close last weekend. I was a little more patient this week, I knew I could do it, and it paid off,” said Widmer, who is competing in just his third year at the senior level, and will race in his first ever World Cup next week at Sovereign Lake, B.C. “This course flows really well, but it is challenging. I’m looking forward to my first World Cup race.”

Other medal winners on the men’s side of the draw include: Drew Goldsack, of Red Deer, Alta., who was the second fastest to cross the line behind Widmer; while Chris Jeffries, of Chelsea, Que., maintains his overall lead of the Haywood NorAm series after finishing third.

Meanwhile, Beckie Scott, who was making her season racing debut under extremely cold temperatures on Saturday, led wire-to-wire in the women’s division of the Madshus sprint competition. Scott, of Vermilion, Alta., led the international field during the qualification around, and was first to cross the line in the head-to-head finals.

The heats consist of the top-30 athletes competing in six heats of five athletes racing simultaneously, with the top-two crossing the line advancing to the next round. The final round pits the fastest four athletes sprinting around the one-kilometre track for the title.

Joining Beckie Scott on the podium in the women’s race was Chandra Crawford, of Canmore, Alta., who won the silver medal, while Tara Whitten of Edmonton finished third. Sara Renner, the bronze medallist in the sprint event at the 2005 World Championships, was the second fastest in the qualification round, but did not compete in the heats.

Canada’s top nordic skiers will compete again on Sunday in another Haywood NorAm race before heading to Vernon, B.C. for their first World Cup in Canada at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre, December 10-11, 2005. The Canadian contingent will then return to their home training course at the Canmore Nordic Centre for another series of World Cup races, December 15-18, 2005.

Cross Country Canada is the governing body of cross-country skiing in Canada. Its 45,000 members are athletes, coaches and officials, including members of the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team and Canadian Disabled Cross-Country Ski Team. Cross-country skiing is Canada’s optimal winter sport and recreational activity with more than one million Canadians participating annually.

Haywood NorAm – Madshus Sprints

Results

Top-4 Men
1.Phil Widmer, Banff, Alta.
2. Drew Goldsack, Red Deer, Alta.
3. Chris Jeffries, Chelsea, Que.
4. Gord Jewett, Toronto.

Top-4 Women
1.Beckie Scott, Vermilion, Alta.
2. Chandra Crawford, Canmore, Alta.
3. Tara Whitten, Edmonton
4. Dasha Gaiazova, Montreal.