March 13, 2011 (Canmore, Alta.) – Four of Canada’s national ski team athletes captured the first gold medals on Saturday of the week-long 2011 Haywood Ski Nationals at the Canmore Nordic Centre.

Calgarians Kevin Sandau and Brent McMurtry teamed up to win the gold in the men’s race while Janelle Greer and Emily Nishikawa, of Whitehorse, combined to win the women’s skate-ski team sprint relay.

Sandau and McMurtry, who are members of Canada’s senior development squad, posted a winning time of 14:58.10 to win the men’s relay. Each athlete skis the 1.4-kilometre loop three times – tagging their partner after each lap.

“It was a great day for us and a lot of fun,” said the 24-year-old McMurty. “The season hasn’t gone as well as expected for me, but it was motivating to watch our guys do well at World Championships and so I wanted to end the season on a high note here at Nationals. It will be a fun week and I’m looking forward to it.”

Taking the baton in second spot from Sandau for the final of three laps, McMurtry caught up to the team of Stefan Kuhn, of Canmore, Alta., and Phil Widmer, of Banff, Alta., in the final 150-metre finishing stretch and never looked back. Kuhn and Widmer won the silver at 14:58.71. Gerard Garnier and Matt Wylie, of Banff, Alta., grabbed the bronze medals with a time of 14:59.98.

Meanwhile Emily Nishikwa teamed up with fellow Whitehorse skier, Janelle Greer, to win the women’s title with a time of 17:45.79. It has been a dream season for Nishikawa who was a force to reckon with at the recent Canada Winter Games.

The Whitehorse duo knocked off the silver medallists – Amanda Ammar and Annika Hicks, who both ski out of the Canmore Nordic Centre. Ammar and Hicks clocked-in at 17:47.92. Rhonda Jewett and Evan Szabo, of Canmore, Alta., claimed the bronze with a time of 17:53.18.

The Haywood Ski Nationals continue on Sunday with the men’s and women’s skate middle distance races.

Full results HERE.