Photo by Photo submitted
TOPS THE LIST 鈥揈mily Nishikawa skis during the women's World Cup 15-km Skiathlon in Canmore, Alta. in this 2012 file photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Nishikawa top female in cross country ski championships
The Eastern Canadian Cross Country Ski Championships are always a huge deal, and this year was no exception, with over 550 skiers turning up for the three-day event in Cantley, Que.c last week.
The Eastern Canadian Cross Country Ski Championships are always a huge deal, and this year was no exception, with over 550 skiers turning up for the three-day event in Cantley, Que.c last week.
And of course there was a strong Yukon presence.
The event was organized as a "mini-tour,鈥� with racers competing in three races: a 1.6-kilometre classic technique sprint race, then a medium distance interval start skate race and finally, a classic technique distance race with a pursuit start, where the skiers hit the trails in the order of their combined times from the first two days. This makes for an exciting final day of racing as the skiers hunt each other down; the first across the line becomes the tour champion.
Emily Nishikawa was the top female. Skiing in the Open Women's category, she started the final day with a 14-second deficit behind leader Kate Brennan from Kanata Nordic, but quickly caught her, then broke away in the last kilometre of the 15-km race to stride to a five-second victory.
This is a great result for Nishikawa, who is prepping for the World Nordic Championships later in the month.
On the men's side, brother Graham Nishikawa also picked up a medal, finishing 3rd over the three day meet. The men's race turned into a mad sprint as four skiers broke away from the field early on in the 30 km race then hit the line together for a photo finish. Nishikawa's time was only 0.8 seconds behind Jesse Cockney, the Open Men's category winner for the tour.
Kendra Murray also had a terrific meet. Competing in the Junior Women's category, she was only 24 seconds out of the gold medal place but brings home a silver for her efforts.
Colin Abbott, just back from the World U23 Championships had a great meet, finishing seventh overall, just ahead of David Greer, also in the top 10. Abbott particularly shone in the sprint qualifier, where he was fourth overall in the Open Men's field, then picked up fifth place in the heats, just ahead of Knute Johnsgaard who rounded out the A final in sixth place.
Race results submitted by the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club.
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