Local cross country skiers qualify for World Junior Championships

Two members of the Telemark Cross Country Ski Team have qualified for the world junior championships in Goms, Switzerland next month.

Gareth Williams and Hannah Mehain earned their berths at the world under 23 and U20 championships respectively with the help of first-place finishes at the Canadian world junior trials in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Que. on the past weekend.

Williams raced to first place in the men’s 30-kilometre event and finished fourth in the 15 km classic race while Mehain led the field in her 5 km classic event. She also skied to fourth place in the skate sprint and seventh in the 10 km skiathlon.

Both Williams and Mehain will be heading to France for a training camp to prepare for the world championships Jan. 27 to Feb. 4.

Eight members of Telemark competed at the Canadian trials, combining for the most successful performance by the team based at West Kelowna’s Telemark Nordic Club.

Highlights:

• Gareth Williams (1st U23) and David Walker (6th U23) in the men’s 30 km Skiathlon;
• Hannah Mehain (1st U20) in the Women 5 km Classic, 4th in the Skate Sprint and 7th in the 10 km Skiathlon;
• Gareth Williams (4th U23), Thomas Hardy (10th U23) and Alex McDonald (11th U23) in the Men’s 15 km Classic;
• Tallon Noble (9th U20) and Ian Williams (11th U20) in the men’s 10 km Classic;
• Tallon Noble (5th U20) and Alex McDonald (19th Open) in the men’s Skate Sprint;
• Cole Turner, the youngest competitor on the squad, achieved a 34th U20 placing in the men’s 10 km Classic.

The Telemark team was supported by Cross Country BC coaches including Telemark head coach Adam Elliot, Matt Smider from Revelstoke Nordic and Chris Manhard, provincial team head coach.

For more information about Telemark Cross Country Ski Team, sponsored by Kelowna Toyota, contact Brent Hobbs at 250-864-2303 or brent_hobbs@telus.net.