Crawford sprints to gold 5.2.2008

CANADA'S CHANDRA CRAWFORD SPRINTS TO GOLD AT ALBERTA WORLD CUP IN CANMORE
-Seven Canadian men and women stacked into top-30-

CANMORE, Alta.-Chandra Crawford was on a mission for gold and didn't have to go far outside her front door in Canmore, Alta. to find it after winning the women's skate-ski sprint race minutes from her house at the Canmore Nordic Centre on Saturday.

"This is absolutely amazing and I am thrilled to be able to win at home in front of all these supportive fans. This town is the greatest in the universe," said Crawford, whose town also boasts one of the most challenging nordic race sites in the world thanks to a $25.6-million restoration project by the Alberta government. "I just wanted to stay relaxed, but get out in front and control each race."

Crawford had control all right. After posting the second fastest qualifying time to move into the head-to-heats with the top-30 athletes, the 24-year-old bolted off the line in each of her three heats and ripped her way up the steep climbs and fast downhill's situated on her home training centre to claim the first World Cup victory of her career in decisive fashion.

"Winning today and at the Olympics were equally special," said Crawford, who admitted she was a little nervous heading into the race after a bad sleep last night, but she settled down after arriving to the nordic centre after noticing so many familiar faces. "When I won at the Olympics, it was more of a shock and surprise, and today is relief to know that I can still do it."

The victory marks the second international medal of Crawford's career to go along with her Olympic gold medal in 2006. Crawford also has two World Cup bronze medals on her resume.

Her career began nearly 20 years ago as a toddler when she was inspired by watching the world come to her hometown to compete at the Olympic Winter Games at the Canmore Nordic Centre. It was also around the same time she began cross-country skiing with her family.

"There is a trail that leads right from here down the hill to my house so I grew up here on skis," said Crawford, whose younger sister Rosanna finished 32nd for Canada at the Junior World Biathlon Championships in Germany today. "I think this shows how powerful and successful the Olympic legacy is in Canada, and it has produced winners."

Crawford wasn't the only winner for Canada on the final day of the Alberta World Cup. Six other Canadian men and women qualified for the heats, which have six athletes racing head-to-head and the top-two in each heat moving on to the next round. Thousands of screaming fans made their way to Canmore to line their way around the remarkable trails in Alberta's Rocky Mountains on Saturday.

Drew Goldsack, of Red Deer, Alta., led the way for the Canadian men, posting his best-ever World Cup result when he finished 12th. The 26-year-old Goldsack advanced into the men's semifinals where his quest for the podium came to a halt after crossing the line third, and was relegated to the small final. Phil Widmer, of Banff, Alta., also charted his best World Cup finish with a 13th-place showing.

After qualifying for the heats, Widmer and four other Canadians came a stride short of advancing past the quarter-finals. Other Canadians in the top-30 included: Sara Renner, of Canmore, Alta., who finished 16th; Sara Daitch, of Fort Smith, N.W.T., was 19th; Devon Kershaw, of Sudbury, Ont., was 20th; and Perianne Jones, of Almonte, Ont., sprinted to her best World Cup finish in 30th.

Joining Crawford on the women's podium was Pirjo Muranen, of Finland, in second, while Italy's Magda Genuin won the bronze.

Sweden's Emil Joensson won the men's race. Joensson shared the podium with Russia's Ivan Ivanov and Finland's Matias Strandvall, who finished second and third respectively.

Cross Country Canada is the governing body of cross-country skiing in Canada. Its 45,000 members are athletes, coaches and officials, including members of the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team and Canadian Disabled Cross-Country Ski Team. Cross-country skiing is Canada's optimal winter sport and recreational activity with more than one million Canadians participating annually.

Complete results: www.fis-ski.com

Top-5 Women's Results:
1.Chandra Crawford, Canmore, Alta., CAN; 2. Pirjo Muranen, FIN; 3. Magda Genuin, ITA; 4. Natalia Matveeva, RUS; 5. Arianna Follis, ITA.

Other Canadian Results:
16. Sara Renner, Canmore, Alta.; 19. Sarah Daitch, Fort Smith, N.W.T.; 30. Perianne Jones, Almonte, Ont.; 41. Andrea Dupont, Timmins, Ont.; 42. Dasha Gaiazova, Montreal; 48. Madeleine Williams, Edmonton; 49. Shayla Swanson, Calgary; 51. Heidi Widmer, Banff, Alta.; 58. Rhonda Jewett, Toronto; 59. Karla Mika, Duntroon, Ont.

Top-5 Men's Results:
1.Emil Joensson, SWE; 2. Ivan Ivanov, RUS; 3. Matias Strandvavall, FIN; 4. Nikolay Morilov, RUS; 5. Josef Wenzl, GER.

Other Canadian Results:
12. Drew Goldsack, Red Deer, Alta.; 13. Phil Widmer, Banff, Alta.; 20. Devon Kershaw, Sudbury, Ont.; T39. Stefan Kuhn, Canmore, Alta.; T39. Sean Crooks, Thunder Bay, Ont.; 46. Brent McMurtry, Calgary; 52. Graham Nishikawa, Whitehorse, Yukon; 61. Ian Murray, South Harbour, N.S.; 64. Mike Argue, Yellowknife, N.W.T.; 65. Skeets Morel, Parry Sound, Ont.; 70. Jesse Winter, North Bay, Ont.