Day three was all about strategy, speed, and endurance with new National Champions crowned in the Elimination Race, Points Race, and Keirin.
In the Men’s Elimination Race, nine riders battled it out for gold. John Bowie (Bellingham, Wash.; Water Line Racing) flew across the finish line, claiming the National Title. Lance Abshire (Baton Rouge, La.; Chaney Windows and Doors) captured second and Michael Watkins (Erie, Colo.; Jacomo Racing p/b Minsky's Pizza) rounded out the podium in third. Watkins’ performance also earned him the Stars and Stripes jersey for the U23 category, bringing his total jersey count to two.
The Women’s Elimination Race concluded the morning’s events. Kimberly Zubris (Alburtis, Pa.; Bike Works p/b Fred Beans) powered through to victory, claiming her second National Title of the week. Colleen Gulick (Long Beach, Calif.; Team Skyline - Cadence) captured second and Chloe Patrick (Carson, Calif.; Cynisca Cycling) rounded out the podium in third. Patrick’s performance also earned her the Stars and Stripes jersey for the U23 category, bringing her total jersey count to four.
1. Kimberly Zubris (Alburtis, Pa.; Bike Works p/b Fred Beans)
2. Colleen Gulick (Long Beach, Calif.; Team Skyline - Cadence)
3. Chloe Patrick (Carson, Calif.; Cynisca Cycling)
1. John Bowie (Bellingham, Wash.; Water Line Racing)
2. Lance Abshire (Baton Rouge, La.; Chaney Windows and Doors)
3. Michael Watkins (Erie, Colo.; Jacomo Racing p/b Minsky's Pizza)
A true mixture of endurance, strategy, and power, the evening session’s Points Races had spectators on the edges of their seats.
Thirteen riders took the track for the Women’s Points Race. Kimberly Zubris (Alburtis, Pa.; Bike Works p/b Fred Beans) established the first lead after the fifth sprint. Chloe Patrick (Carson, Calif.; Cynisca Cycling) responded and took the lead after the seventh sprint. Going into the final sprint, Patrick and Zubris were tied for first. Ultimately, Zubris crosses the finish line first with 38 points, securing her third National Title of the week. Patrick secured silver with 34 points, and Elizabeth Stevenson (Rochester Hills, Mich.; Mad Track Cycling/Lexus Velodrome) earned bronze with 23 points. Patrick’s performance also earned her the Stars and Stripes jersey for the U23 category, bringing her total jersey count to five.
Sixteen riders lined up for the Men’s Points Race. Daniel Breuer (Atlanta, Ga.; Chaney Windows and Doors) and Bradley Green (Schnecksville, Pa.; Star Track) gained a lap and were tied for first after the sixth sprint. Anders Johnson (Huntsville, Utah; Chaney Windows and Doors) and Lance Abshire (Baton Rouge, La.; Chaney Windows and Doors) attacked and successfully gained a lap. Johnson took the top spot on the leaderboard in the eighth sprint. With forty-four laps to go, Johnson made the move to gain his second lap, and did just that, continuing to build his lead. In a show of force and fierce determination, John Terrell (Converse, Texas) and Max Haggard (San Diego, Calif.; Water Line Racing) went full-out to gain a lap and to claim 5 points and 3 points in the fourteenth sprint, respectively. Johnson took the final sprint and finished with 88 points to win his third National Title of the week. Abshire secured silver with 54 points, and Green earned bronze with 44 points. Michael Watkins (Erie, Colo.; Jacomo Racing p/b Minsky's Pizza) claimed the National Title for the U23 category, bringing his total jersey count to three.
1. Kimberly Zubris (Alburtis, Pa.; Bike Works p/b Fred Beans)
2. Chloe Patrick (Carson, Calif.; Cynisca Cycling)
3. Elizabeth Stevenson (Rochester Hills, Mich.; Mad Track Cycling/Lexus Velodrome)
1. Anders Johnson (Huntsville, Utah; Chaney Windows and Doors)
2. Lance Abshire (Baton Rouge, La.; Chaney Windows and Doors)
3. Bradley Green (Schnecksville, Pa.; Star Track)
Keirin Round 1 rides set the tone for the day as the first events of the morning session. Kayla Hankins (Scottsdale, Ariz.; American Sprint Cycling Program) and McKenna McKee (Vancouver, Wash.; Kirk Whiteman Coaching) were the top qualifiers for the Women. Evan Boone (Sierra Vista, Ariz.; Performance Cycle Coaching) and Andrew Chu (Flushing, N.Y.; Edge Cycling) were the top qualifiers for the Men.
The Finals closed out the evening session and the exhilarating energy was palpable. The Women’s Final came down to a well-fought, full-out finish. McKee pushed it over the line to claim gold by a margin of 0.144. This win also earned McKee the Stars and Stripes jersey for the U23 category, bringing her total jersey count to five. Mia Deye (Geigertown, Pa.; Star Track) captured silver and Emily Hayes (York, S.C.) earned bronze.
In the Men’s Final, top-qualifiers Boone and Chu batted it out in the bell lap for the lead. Boone powered through to win the National Title by 0.116. Chu secured silver and Corey Jameson (San Diego, Calif.; Water Line Racing) earned bronze. Louis Bonilla (Long Beach, Calif.; Ironfly) claimed the National Title for the U23 category, bringing his total jersey count to two.
1. McKenna McKee (Vancouver, Wash.; Kirk Whiteman Coaching)
2. Mia Deye (Geigertown, Pa.; Star Track)
3. Emily Hayes (York, S.C.)
1. Evan Boone (Sierra Vista, Ariz.; Performance Cycle Coaching)
2. Andrew Chu (Flushing, N.Y.; Edge Cycling
3. Corey Jameson (San Diego, Calif.; Water Line Racing)
Full results for day three, along with the schedule and live timing for the fourth and final day, can be found here.
Photo By: Craig Huffman
