Alysson Marshall came home with double silver and was top Canadian in both races in NorAms held in Rossland on the weekend of Dec. 17 and 18.
In the 1.4-kilometre Skate Sprint Qualifier, Marshall was fourth. Over a technically challenging course and after making it through all the heats, she finished second behind Jessie Diggins of the U.S. in the final sprint to the finish. Third was another American, Jennie Bender. The same course saw major crashes in the men’s categories.
Sunday was the 10- km Mass Start Skate Technique race done with three laps. The race was won again by Diggins with a 1:14 margin over the chase group consisting of Marshall, her teammate Emily Nishikawa, and two Americans.
After lap one, Nishikawa dropped back and the other three stayed together until the end of the race when Marshall and Jennie Bender were left sprinting for the finish with less than a second between them. Marshall took the silver, preventing an American sweep.
The NorAms return Jan. 12-15 at Callaghan Valley.