BY: The Canadian Press PHOTOGRAPHY: Matthew Murnaghan/Canadian Paralympic Committee
ASAHIKAWA, Japan – Brian McKeever of Canmore, Alta., captured a gold medal at a para nordic World Cup event Saturday.
McKeever won the men’s 10-kilometre classic-ski visually impaired event, one of three Canadians to capture medals at the event.
Brittany Hudak of Prince Albert, Sask., was second in a women’s five-kilometre standing race while biathlon specialist of Mark Arendz of Hartsville, P.E.I., was third in his event.
“We have only been here two days and are all quite sleepy with jet lag, but we are pretty happy with the results all-around today,” said Canadian team head coach Robin McKeever. “The skis were really good, and I am happy with how everyone skied. They were all solid from start-to-finish.”
Brian McKeever finished more than two minutes ahead of the field. Norway’s Erik Bye was second while France’s Anthony Chalencon took third.
Hudak, 21, took second in her race with a time of 16:53.6. Russian Ekaterina Rumyantseva was first in 16:28.9 while Japan’s Yurika Abe took third in 18:24.0.
Arendz stood fifth for most of his race before coming on strong at the end to finish third in 28:47.5 and earn his first career medal in a distance cross-country ski race.
