Emily Nishikawa gave it her best shot, and she finished as the top Canadian in the women’s 10-kilometre skate-ski race today.

Mother Nature may have been the big winner, but the Whitehorse Olympic cross-country skier was celebrating just getting to the start line at the 2015 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden.

Battling illness over the last week, the 25-year-old arrived at the world championships just days before her first start, where she finished as the top female Canuck in 30th spot.

She battled through heavy snow and weather just below zero to clock a time of 27:29.3.

“I was sick all last week so I didn’t know how my body would respond,” Nishikawa said. “It could have gone either way, but I felt good and it was a great race for me.

“It was snowing so hard. I just pushed as hard as I could and the skis were great.”

Sweden’s Charlotte Kalla finished first in 25:08.8, while Americans Jessica Diggins and Caitlin Gregg placed second and third, respectively, marking an historic day for USA skiing. (See page 20 for further coverage.)

Nishikawa was one of four Canadian athletes to emerge from “isolation” in Oestersund, Sweden, for today’s competition.

She was joined by fellow Canucks veteran Perianne Jones and rookie Olivia Bouffard-Nesbitt, who finished 32nd and 52nd, respectively.

Nishikawa, who has emerged as the country’s top distance racer over the past two seasons, prevailed in a tight battle down the homestretch with teammate Jones, usually a sprinter.

“This is likely my final international race,” Jones said in a press release from Cross Country Canada.

“I surprised myself a little bit today. It is a nice ending to a good year and career.”

With the result, Nishikawa continues her positive progression on the international race circuit with her best results to date.