Alysson Marshall of the Larch Hills Ski Club was crowned Haywood NorAm Western Canadian Champion after a three-day pursuit event last weekend in Canmore, Alta.
A day after she won her first NorAm gold medal in the sprints Saturday, Marshall hung on for the overall title with a fourth-place finish in the 10-kilometre free pursuit. She compiled an aggregate of 47 minutes, 17.8 seconds, finishing 2.1 seconds ahead of Emily Nishikawa of Whitehorse (47:19.9).
Marshall, who started Sunday with a 16-second lead, was unstoppable in winning the sprints, and earned a bronze medal in the first stage (5-km classic) on Friday in frigid temperatures, just 0.4 seconds off of a silver medal, and less than five seconds off first place Nishikawa.
Marshall also maintained her NorAm leader position, wearing the yellow bib in her races.
Vernon’s Heather Mehain, a member of the Sovereign Lake Nordic Club, finished 10th overall with a 50:07.7. She recorded a personal best sixth in the sprint distance.
On the men’s side, Sovereign’s Matt Wylie clocked a 1:12:45.8 to finish 24th in the open class, and Eric Byram finished the juvenile boys division with an 18:12.8 to collect bronze.
Eastern championships are Feb. 3-5, in Cantley, Que. (near Ottawa).
