Whitehorse's Janelle Greer and Emily Nishikawa have both returned to form, according to the pair's recent results from abroad.

Greer was the top Canadian female in the World Junior Cross Country Ski Championships for the second time in Otepaa, Estonia, today. Meanwhile, Nishikawa was the top Canadian female of the U23 Cross Country Ski Championships yesterday.

Greer finished 20th in the 1.2-kilometre classic skiing sprint qualifier today with a time of three minutes, 25.59 seconds. Banff's Heidi Widmer was the next Canadian to finish that event, 25th in 3:26.97.

Based on her result, Greer advanced to the heats with the top-30 athletes but failed to advance into the semifinal round.

At the end, she finished in 21st place, the top Canadian result of the day.

Greer, who trains full time at the Alberta World Cup Academy in Canmore, Alta., was also the top Canadian finisher on Jan. 26, when she finished 35th in the five-kilometre event in 15:06.7.

Yukon Ski Team veteran Nishikawa finished the 10-km free technique course yesterday in 28:41.5, good for 16th place overall, another top finish for Canadians.

Both Yukon skiers qualified for the international event based on results from the Haywood NorAm World Junior/U23 Trials at the Lappe Nordic Ski Centre in Thunder Bay, Ont., on Jan. 6-9.

The news of their most recent results is just fine with Team Yukon's Canada Winter Games head coach Alain Masson.

Especially considering that both skiers experienced turbulence on their road to Estonia.

Nishikawa competed in the U23 World Championships in Germany last year, eventually finishing 27th overall after advancing into the quarterfinal heats of the sprint event.

This fall, however, her training has been hampered by a shoulder injury.

"That prevented her from good training this fall – so it's nice to see it hasn't affected her results so far this season,” Masson said.

Greer missed out on qualifying for last year's World Juniors after suffering a cold in the Canadian trials held in Quebec.

But she's clearly bounced back from any self-doubt.

"This year has been a really good season for her,” Masson said.

"That's the life of any of these athletes, because you train so hard, always at the edge of over-training and just the right amount, so injuries and sickness are very common. But it's nice to see that they are able to come back and come back really good.”

The two will join the rest of Team Yukon's cross-country ski team shipping off to Halifax, N.S., for the Canada Winter Games in February.

Having two top Canadians at an international event is important for the Yukon's success at the Games.

"Now the trick is for them to maintain that level of fitness until the Games in Halifax,” Masson said. "If they race as well as they are racing right now, our women's team is going to do exceptionally well; and I am confident that we will have good results, but it would great if they have the same level of performance that they are having this week.”