Sunday, January 19, 2003 (Mt. Ste Anne, Quebec) – It was a good day for members of the Canadian Junior and Senior National Cross Country Ski teams as they brought in three medals and six top-5 results in the men's and women's 10 and 5 km classic cross-country ski race held as part of the Subaru Continental Cup Series up in Mt. Ste Anne, Quebec early this afternoon.

After a race cancellation yesterday due to cold weather, the racers braved the elements and set off today in 15 degree weather. Nineteen year old Daria Gaiazova, from Montreal, put on another gold medal winning performance, beating all the Seniors and Juniors to finish in a time of 18:23.7. Four seconds behind came powerhouse sprinter Aelin Peterson, from Fairbanks, Alaska, followed by fellow American Melissa Oram in 18:48.8. Gaiazova's Junior teammate Madeleine Williams, who skies for Edmonton Nordic, was narrowly pushed out of the medals by two seconds, crossing the finish in a time of 18:50.5. Senior racer Tasha Betcherman, from Ontario, came in 5th in 18:54.8.

Junior National team Head Coach Alain Parent is very pleased with his top Juniors’ results. “It was a good day for both Daria and Madeleine for sure,” says Parent. “It is very encouraging to see Daria on top of the Seniors, and Madeleine is looking good as well.”

As winner of today's race Gaiazova is automatically qualified to be part of the Junior National Team heading over to Soleftea, Sweden to compete in the World Junior Championships in February. The rest of the team will be determined over the course of the next two races, which are held tomorrow and Wednesday at the same location.

On the Men's side, the race was dominated by Ottawa racer and Team 2006 member Chris Jeffries until the last 2 km when American Justin Freeman, who has been consistently on the podium, came from behind to win in 26:56.9. Twenty-five year old Jeffries had to settle for the silver in 27:22.1, followed two seconds later by teammate George Grey, from Rossland, B.C. Fourth place went to Team 2006 member Drew Goldsack in 27:33.1. The twenty-one year old Red Deer native beat out American veteran and Olympian Patrick Weaver by one second. The top Junior racer was American Andrew Newell, and the top Canadian racer was National Team member and Thunder Bay native Sean Crooks, who came in 14th in a time of 28:32.2.

“(Our) guys are skiing faster now than before Christmas,” explains Parent. “They are speeding up and we can continue to have decent results.”

Aside from being selection races for the World Juniors, the Subaru Continental Cup series this weekend and next weekend are also trials for the upcoming World Championships held in Val di Fiemme, Italy and the U-23 World Championships held in Bormio, Italy. The athletes competing for the World Juniors leave this coming Thursday, while the other athletes continue the selection races on January 25, 26th in Mt. Orford, Quebec.

The Subaru/Madshus Continental Cup Series is an integral part of the North American racing program as they prepare for the international competitive field.

CCC is the national sport governing body for cross-country skiing in Canada, servicing over 45,000 members in 375 clubs. The corporate vision: “It takes a ski community to raise Olympic medallists”, embraces the Association's focus from entry level club development to the enhancement of the National Ski Team program.

For complete race results: http://pages.infinit.net/skibec/francais/results.htm