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Britt Janyk takes national DH title

Janyk cruises to 14th national title on the women's side

While most members of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team will be glad to put this year's injury-prone season behind them, there is still the matter of national titles to settle.

The team headed to Nakiska this week to race the GMC Canadian Championships, where they were joined in the field by top development and provincial level athletes, as well as FIS-level club athletes that made the cut. American athletes also came out to race.

Whistler Mountain Ski Club athletes with the B.C. Ski Team - most of them making their first appearance at a national championship - include Kailee Darlington, Jocelyn Ramsden, Ford Swette and Broderick Thompson. The Pridy brothers, Conrad and Morgan, have been to nationals before.

Charley Field, Sofi Leroux, Blake Ramsden, Brodie Seger and Rae Swette are members of the WMSC's FIS team. Madison McLeish is a WMSC alum with a national development program. Britt Janyk is a member of the national team.

The first event on the schedule was the downhill on Saturday. Whistler's Britt Janyk cruised to her 14th national title on the women's side with a time of 59.41 on the short course. Fernie's Sarah Freeman picked up the silver medal, just under a second back of Janyk, while Victoria Stevens of Quebec was third.

Other Whistler skiers in the running were Kailee Darlington in 19th, Sofi Leroux in 26th, Jocelyn Ramsden in 27th and Charley Field in 28th out of close to 50 starters.

"It's obviously nice to come away with a win and to be here racing in Canada and enjoying the whole atmosphere," said Janyk. "I don't know a lot of the young girls but they know me and watch me race. It's nice to know that they look up to me a little bit. I want to be here to give back to the sport and the program."

There was a major upset on the men's side as Ontario's Kelby Halbert - towering over the field at six-foot-eight - took the men's race and his first national title. He bested several members of the national team to take the win.

"I caught an edge on the landing after the jump and barely made the gate," he said. "I'm pretty happy it worked out. The last two years I've been second, so it feels great."

Tyler Nella and Chris Frank were second and third respectively, while national team skiers Jan Hudec and Benjamin Thomsen were fourth and fifth.

From Whistler, Conrad Pridy was 11th, Morgan Pridy 17th, Broderick Thompson 32nd, Brodie Seger 54th, Ford Swette 64th and Blake Ramsden 68th.

Next up were the super G and super combined events.

Marie-Michele Gagnon edged out Britt Janyk by 0.06 seconds to take the women's super G title, with Madison Irwin placing third. Whistler's Madison McLeish was sixth, Sofi Leroux 19th, Jocelyn Ramsden 21st, Kailee Darlington 27th and Charley Field 36th.

Gagnon added a nice slalom run to her day to take the women's super combined title, ahead of Madison Irwin and Marie-Pier Prefontaine. Although she probably hasn't been on her slalom skis for a while, Britt Janyk placed fourth. Madison McLeish was fifth, Jocelyn Ramsden 20th, Sofi Leroux 21st, Kailee Darlington 22nd and Charley Field 29th,

Jeffrey Frisch took the men's super G, ahead of Dustin Cook and Jan Hudec. Conrad Pridy jumped to fifth place, Morgan Pridy was 14th, Broderick Thompson 29th, Ford Swette 36th, Brodie Seger 55th and Blake Ramsden 60th.

In the second women's super G, Whistler's Madison McLeish shocked the field when she tied Britt Janyk for the win.

"I wasn't expecting this when I came through the finish line," said McLeish. "It's very cool. Britt is a World Cup winner. She's a fantastic skier. It feels really great to share the podium with her."

Marie-Michele Gagnon picked up the bronze medal.

Jocelyn Ramsden also moved up to 14th, Sofi Leroux was 23rd, Charley Field 28th and Kailee Darlington 35th.

Jan Hudec improved to first in the second men's super G, with Jeffrey Frisch and Dustin Cook rounding out the podium. Morgan Pridy was 11th, Broderick Thompson 34th, Ford Swette 37th, Brodie Seger 47th and Blake Ramsden 67th.

The GMC National Championships wrap up today, Thursday, Mar. 31.