January 5, 2008 (Duntroon, Ont.) – Phil Widmer and Chandra Crawford blazed their way to the top of the podium amongst the best cross-country skiers in the country in a Tech Cominco skate-ski sprint race in Duntroon, Ont. on Saturday.

The 24-year-old Widmer, of Banff, Alta., captured the gold in the men’s sprint after a masterful performance where he set the pace all day long. Widmer was the fastest of the top-30 to qualify for the head-to-head heats on an exciting course in Ontario that was loaded with steep climbs, fast downhills and tight corners.

“I really enjoyed this course and there was a number of tactics that you could take,” said Widmer, who admitted he altered between strategies of drafting behind the lead group and taking the outright lead and not looking back throughout the heats. “I did a little bit of everything today but in the final I took control of the front and gave it everything I had.”

The victory is the second sprint win of the season for the young Canuck on the Haywood NorAm circuit, leaving him in a good frame of mind heading into his first World Cup race of the season in Canmore, Alta., January 22.

“I am really looking forward to racing on the World Cup,” said Widmer. “I feel like things are on the right track and I’m skiing the way I want to be right now which is good.”

Widmer was being chased all day by his Canadian teammates, many of whom will also be competing at the Canmore World Cup. Drew Goldsack, of Red Deer, Alta., finished in second spot, while Skeets Morel, of Thunder Bay, Ont., made his way to the podium for the first time this year after solidifying the bronze medal.

Meanwhile, Olympic gold medallist, Chandra Crawford was on a mission for gold in Ontario. Like Widmer, the 24-year-old Canmore, Alta. native led a deep and talented women’s field into the head-to-head heats, and cruised her way to her first NorAm victory of the season.

“Chandra skied strong and was in control all day,” said Eric de Nys, coach, Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team. “You can tell she was having fun and this is good preparation for her heading into the World Cup.”

Joining Crawford on the podium was Perianne Jones, of Almonte, Ont., in second, while Olympic silver medallist, Sara Renner, grabbed her second podium appearance of the week finishing third.

While many of Canada’s best were taking part in their final tune-up races at home for the World Cup, David Nighbor was continuing his quest of skiing more than 100 kilometres in 10 days at the Tour de Ski in Val di Fiemme, Italy. As the lone Canuck skiing against the world’s best in the seventh of eight grueling races that cover all disciplines of the sport, the 23-year-old Nighbor improved on his best-ever World Cup result by five places after posting a time of one hour 01 minutes 37.9 seconds, good enough for 32nd spot in the 20-kilometre classic mass start.

Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset, of Norway won the seventh leg with a time of 1:00:17.8. The Tour de Ski wraps up on Sunday in Italy with the pursuit races.

The Haywood NorAm Series continues on Sunday with the women’s and men’s 10- and 15-kilometre classic races. Sunday’s results will be the final races used to determine Canada’s World Under-23 Championship and World Junior Teams.

Final Results

Men’s A

1. Phil Widmer (NST)
2. Drew Goldsack (NST)
3. Skeets Morel (Indi2010)
4. Alex Harvey (CNEPH)
5. Stefan Kuhn (NST)
6. Ian Murray (RMR)

Women’s A

1. Chandra Crawford (NST)
2. Perianne Jones (NST)
3. Sara Renner (NST)
4. Madeleine Williams (Fast Trax)
5. Amanda Ammar (NST)
6. Andrea Dupont (Porcupine)

Men’s B

7. George Grey (NST)
8. Brent McMurtry (CNEPH)
9. Chris Jeffries (Team X-C.com)
10. Jesse Winter (NTDC)
11. Chris Werell (CVTC)
12. Cam Egan (Team SilverStar)

Women’s B

7. Shayla Swanson (Team X-C.com)
8. Brooke Gosling (Team X-C.com )
9. Kate Brennan (NTDC )
10. Becky Puiras (Lappe Nordic )
11. Jacqui Benson (Caledonia Nordic )
12. Dasha Gaiasova (NST )

Qualifying Results

Men
1. Phil Widmer (NST) 2:29
2. Alex Harvey (CNEPH) 01.0
3. Stefan Kuhn (NST) 04.1
4. Frederic Touchette (Jr) (CNEPH) 04.3
5. Brent McMurtry (CNEPH) 04.4
6. Len Valjas (NTDC TBAY) 04.7
7. George Grey (NST) 05.1
8. Skeets Morel (Indi2010) 05.5
9. Drew Goldsack (NST) 05.6
10. Chris Werrell (CVTC) 05.7

Women

1. Chandra Crawford (NST) 2:53.5
2. Perianne Jones (NST) 05.4
3. Sarah Renner (NST) 06.8
4. Brooke Gosling (Team X-C.com) 08.5
5. Andrea Dupont (Porcupine) 10.3
6. Shayla Swanson (Team X-C.com) 10.4
7. Dasha Gaiasova (NST) 12.4
8. Kate Brennan (NTDC TBAY) 14.9
9. Madeleine Williams (Fast Trax) 15.5
10. Heidi Widmer (Jr) (FNSC) 15.6

Full results at www.zone4.ca