Graeme Killick and Emily Nishikawa have a message for Cross Country Canada: The kids are all right.
In dramatic fashion, the duo beat out more experienced opposition to snag the last two distance spots on Canada’s Olympic cross-country ski squad at the Haywood NorAm Olympic trials, Jan. 8-12.
Nishikawa, 24, started the 10-kilometre classic race in fine form, pulling away from her opposition early with a heartpounding pace on the hilly course. The Yukon-born skier renowned for her endurance and strength proved to be untouchable and finished the course in 32:32.1, 54 seconds ahead of MitoCanada athlete and 2010 Olympian Brittany Webster. Ski Ninja Zoe Roy was third, 1:23 back of Nishikawa.
“I felt great today. I pushed so hard and did exactly what I wanted to do,” Nishikawa said. “I know I put in the work and my shape is good. To put it together feels great.”
That put her in the leader’s spot heading into the 15-km skiathlon on Sunday (Jan. 19) with a huge target on her back. The race combines classic and skate technique and Nishikawa stuck with the lead group through the classic portion of the race, while a group led by Webster, Amanda Ammar and 17-year-old Anne-Marie Comeau did their best to push the pace and tire Nishikawa.
Their strategy worked, as Nishikawa faltered midway through the race, falling back to sixth place. Ammar, a 2006 Olympian, had wax problems on Thursday but ended up winning the race 5.4 seconds ahead of Webster and 2:13 ahead of Nishikawa. Founder of the Ski Ninja team, Ammar called the victory a win for independent ski racing, proving skiers don’t have to be members of training centres or national teams to succeed.
“I wanted to be a role model for girls who wanted to do it on their own. I’ve been put in a situation where I’m not on a training team, I work part time. It feels amazing to beat these girls that are carded by the government and have all these resources,” Ammar said. “I deserve this. I worked my ass off.”
That put the jury in the spotlight. CCC criteria stated in order to go to the Olympics, an athlete had to win one of the trials races. Based on the results, Nishikawa’s win in the 10 km by 54 seconds trumped Ammar’s five second win in the skiathlon, sending Nishikawa to Sochi.
On the men’s side, The man they call G-Kil (Killick) was in top form on Thursday in the 15 km classic race, building up a 28 second lead by the 7.5 km mark over the rest of the field. After years of promise, the 24-year-old Fort McMurray native appeared ready to realize his potential.
That’s when Brian McKeever woke up and decided to hunt down the young skier. As Killick showed signs of fatigue, McKeever grew stronger and stronger. At the top of the last climb up Beckie’s Hill, Killick’s lead had been cut to 15 second. By the time he reached the finish line, it had vanished completely. McKeever had bested him by a second and a half.
McKeever said he used the same pacing technique that brought him two Paralympic gold medals earlier this season. He trusted his shape and it paid off.
“Everything is out of your control except for your own race,” Mckeever said. “It’s validation – it’s the only way we know how to do it. It’s about trusting in that. We executed the plan really well… this whole year has been about this week. If I get a spot, that would be amazing, if not, as long as I’ve done everything I can.”
Killick was devastated after the loss.
“I went as hard as I could. I lost on the downhill. I guess I didn’t quite have it,” a tearful Killick said.
Determined not to lose the skiathlon, Killick came out on fire on Sunday. Along with Michael Somppi, Jesse Cockney, Kevin Sandau, Knute Johnsgaard, Chris Hamilton and McKeever, they blistered through the classic portion of the race.
Cockney and Killick made a break on the last classic lap, and ended up with a 15 second lead on the chase pack. They chased down Cockney, but couldn’t catch Killick, who extended his lead to nearly a minute. Hamilton led a valiant attack to chase down Killick, but couldn’t quite reel him in. Killick finished in a time of 1:26:53, 58 seconds ahead of Cockney, who was second. Somppi was third and McKeever slid back to eighth.
Exhausted, Killick was mobbed by friends and family. His best friends, Len Valjas and Cockney, wrapped him in a bear hug, repeating the phrase “you’re going to Sochi.:
“It feels so good. It’s been the dream for the past four years. With so many guys gunning for it and so many guys in good shape, I feel so lucky to be in good shape,” Killick said. “I didn’t let myself celebrate until that last hill. That’s when I knew I had it.”
He said losing Thursday’s race was perfect motivation and deferred credit to his teammates and support crew.
“It makes you think about every second.”
Alberta World Cup Academy head coach Mike Cavaliere coached all of the athletes who snagged Olympic spots at trials.
“It means we’re doing our job. It’s amazing. Words can’t describe how happy I am. Our job is transitional, to move athletes from fledgings to the national team,” Cavaliere said. “This is validity that we’re doing the right thing.”
