Canmore, Canada – With Olympic spots on the line, Stefan Kuhn and Daria Gaiazova started the day on the right note, winning the classic sprint qualifier at the Canmore Nordic Center.
Gaiazova posted her usual strong qualification, besting runner-up Shayla Swanson by 3 seconds. Canada took the top 7 spots, with Laura Valaas (APU) in 8th.
Kuhn was 1.5 seconds ahead of fellow Canadian Drew Goldsack. Favorite Garrott Kuzzy (USST/CXC Team Vertical Limit) qualified 7th.
The course is relatively long with Kuhn clocking in at 3:41 and Gaiazova at 3:47. THe women are racing a 1.45km loop and the men 1.7k.
The heats take place this afternoon. The top Canadian will earn an Olympic berth, and Americans have a chacne to show their mettle in the classic sprint – one of the Olympic events.
Please note: The following results are still considered unofficial.
Men’s Qualifiers
| 1 | Stefan | Kuhn | CAN |
| 2 | Drew | Goldsack | CAN |
| 3 | Philip | Widmer | CAN |
| 4 | Brent | McMurtry | CAN |
| 5 | Graham | Nishikawa | CAN |
| 6 | Simeon | Hamilton | USA |
| 7 | Garrott | Kuzzy | USA |
| 8 | Frederic | Touchette | CAN |
| 9 | Lenny | Valljas | CAN |
| 10 | Chris | Cook | USA |
| 11 | Dan | Roycroft | CAN |
| 11 | David | Greer | CAN |
| 13 | Haakon | Lenes | CAN |
| 14 | Julien | Nury | CAN |
| 15 | Colin | Rodgers | USA |
| 16 | Mark | Iverson | USA |
| 17 | Mike | Hinckley | USA |
| 18 | Kit | Richmond | CAN |
| 19 | David | Nighbor | CAN |
| 20 | Dakota | Blackhorse | USA |
| 21 | Sean | Crooks | CAN |
| 22 | Christopher | Butler | CAN |
| 23 | Michael | Sinnott | USA |
| 24 | Mike | Argue | CAN |
| 25 | Jess | Cockney | CAN |
| 26 | Anders | Haugen | USA |
| 27 | Skeets | Morel | CAN |
| 28 | Brent | Knight | USA |
| 29 | Ian | Murray | CAN |
| 30 | Jeff | Ellis | CAN |
Women’s Qualifiers:
| 1 | Daria | Gaiazova | CAN |
| 2 | Shayla | Swanson | CAN |
| 3 | Rhonda | Jewett | CAN |
| 4 | Madeleine | Williams | CAN |
| 5 | Kate | Brennan | CAN |
| 6 | Sarah | Daitch | CAN |
| 7 | Andrea | Dupont | CAN |
| 8 | Laura | Valaas | USA |
| 9 | Emily | Nishikawa | CAN |
| 10 | Ida | Sargent | USA |
| 11 | Brooke | Gosling | CAN |
| 12 | Heidi | Widmer | CAN |
| 13 | Nicole | De Yong | USA |
| 14 | Audrey | Weber | USA |
| 15 | Rosie | Brennan | USA |
| 16 | Katie | Ronsse | USA |
| 17 | Karla | Bailey | CAN |
| 18 | Alysson | Marshall | CAN |
| 19 | Lindsay | Williams | USA |
| 20 | Jacqui | Benson | CAN |
| 21 | Kate | Whitcomb | USA |
| 22 | Adele | Espy | USA |
| 23 | Morgan | Smyth | USA |
| 24 | Erin | Tribe | CAN |
| 25 | Sara | Hewitt | CAN |
| 26 | Becca | Rorabaugh | USA |
| 27 | Marlis | Kromm | CAN |
| 28 | Erika | Klaar | USA |
| 29 | Sheila | Kealey | CAN |
| 30 | Megan | McTavish | CAN |
