Brian McKeever and Erik Carleton pulled off a double-double in the first para-nordic race of the year in Wisconsin, increasing Canada’s impressive medal haul to seven in the first two days of International Para-nordic Committee World Cup competition.
Led by his guide Carleton, McKeever is again dominating competition. The duo got things started with a 10 kilometre skate race on Sunday (Jan 13.) where they finished nearly two minutes ahead of their nearest competitor. In a 20 km classic race on Monday (Jan. 14), the Canadians were even more dominant, finishing more than five minutes ahead of their nearest competitors to win gold.
At 33, McKeever is still at the top of his game. He and Carleton raced for Canada at the Canmore World Cup cross-country ski races where McKeever finished 38th in the skiathlon. He suffers from Stargaard’s disease, which impairs his vision.
Sunday also saw Mark Arendz break through with his best finish on the IPC cross-country ski circuit. Arendz usually races biathlon, however he grabbed the silver medal in the 10 km skate, finishing with a time of 25:08.9.
“It was a great race for me. I made smart decisions and skied a terrific final. It came down to a lunge at the line which I came up just short,” Arendz said.
“I’m very happy with the race. A lot of things were right where I want them, with my speed and fitness,” said Arendz in a news release. “I was having a great race and knew I was on the podium, but it never sunk in until after the race that I was on track for a best-ever cross-country race. It shows that I’m in solid shape for the biathlon races later in the week.”
Louis Fortin, the other Canadian in the race, finished 11th.
Arendz trains with the Rocky Mountain Racers in Canmore, and had a strong lead-up to the race with a biathlon win at the Canmore Nordic Centre last Sunday (Jan. 6). He lost his right arm in a farming accident when he was a child.
Colette Bourgonje also had two medals, winning silver and bronze respectively in 5 km and 10 km sit-ski races. Thunder Bay’s Robbi Weldon finished second in the 5 km visually-impaired skate ski race. Magaria Gorbounova and guide Andrea Bundon took bronze.
The World Cup serves as a qualifying race for the 2014 Paralympic Games. Five of eight Canadian development athletes earned their ticket to the Olympics thanks to results in Wisconsin.
Canadians will compete in biathlon races later this week, where Arendz is expected to continue his medal streak. The 23-year-old has 17 World Cup medals to his credit.
McKeever and Carleton have a tricky schedule, as they prefer to race long distance races in Europe instead of World Cup competitions. They plan to race again in the Vassalloppett in Sweden, where the duo will seek redemption after McKeever broke a pole in last year’s race.
For full results, visit www.paralympic.org
