Former Black Jack cross-country skier Rebecca Reid was golden on Saturday at the Haywood NorAm Eastern Canadian championship at the Nakkertok Nordic facility in Cantley, Que.
The Rossland native won the junior woman’s 10-kilometre free ski in a time of 28 minutes 41.8 seconds, narrowly beating out Camille Pepin of Club Nordique by three seconds. Anne-Marie Comeau of Club Nordique came third.
Reid also qualified with the fastest time in the 1.4-km individual sprint but finished10th, good enough for third-place overall combined in the junior mini-tour.
“The 10-K skate is a great distance for me,” said Reid from Ottawa on Wednesday. “I like the technique, I like the distance and everything just kind of came together.”
The 19-year-old came off a tough season last year but has steadily worked her way back into contention.
“This is my first win in a really long time. After overtraining last season, I’m finally back. I felt like a ski racer on Saturday for the first time in a long time.”
While Reid grew up on the Black Jack tracks, she now trains with the Alberta World Cup Academy in Canmore, Alta.
“The team is amazing, our coaches and support staff are top notch.”
Not that Reid has performed poorly but she says it’s good to be on the podium again and will try to continue her winning ways in Mont Orford, Que. this weekend before returning to Canmore to train for the Nationals next month.
Meanwhile two other Black Jack skiers also had good results on the weekend.
Black Jack’s David Palmer just missed the podium in the junior men’s 15-km Free, placing fourth behind Quebecers Raphail Couturier and Alexis Turgeon and Knute Johnsgaard of Whitehorse. Palmer also finished fifth in the 30-km classic pursuit.
Julien Locke also competed well. After posting the second fastest qualifying time, the Black Jack skier finished fifth in the 1.4-km sprint free ski, and placed 10th in the 15-km free in a field of 55 racers and 11th in the 30-km classic pursuit.