Despite just coming off a bad cold which sidelined her training, Salmon Arm’s Alysson Marshall won a pair of gold medals at the Haywood NorAm Canadian Eastern Championships.
The event was held Jan. 31 to Feb. 1 at Nakkeratok Ski Club near Ottawa. Almost 700 racers competed in the event that included the Para-Nordic Nationals. Day one was the 1.4-kilometre Buff skate sprints. In the qualifier, Marshall was second by one second to Andrea Dupont, but in the final heat she edged out Dupont to take the gold.
Marshall had a disappointing race on Day 2, coming fifth in the 10-km interval start skate event.
On Sunday, she rebounded and took the gold in the 15-km mass start classic technique event.
Marshall tucked behind the two leading competitors and in the final climb she pushed herself over the top of the hill, passed the other two women and sprinted to the finish with a comfortable 6.7 second lead over the second-place finisher.
“Based on the races I will be heading to Scandinavia next week to race some Scandinavian Cups and probably a World Cup weekend also,” said a jubilant Marshall following the weekend events.