Bryan, Gunsalus, Sarkisov, and Sippy Earn Collegiate National Titles on Second Day of Cyclocross Nationals

Kicking things off for the day was the Masters Men 30-34 who completed a total of 41 minutes of racing. After a hard-fought battle, Cypress Gorry (Pisgah, N.C.; Rouleur Coaching) was the one to earn the first title of the day, with Nate Morse (Greenville, S.C., Lima One Capital) finishing 19 seconds behind him in second. Vance Fletcher (Des Moines, Iowa; Eastown Racing) rounded out the podium in third.  

Results: 

1. Cypress Gorry (Pisgah, N.C.; Rouleur Coaching) 

2. Nate Morse (Greenville, S.C., Lima One Capital) 

3. Vance Fletcher (Des Moines, Iowa; Eastown Racing) 

Racing continued with the Masters Men 35-39. Twenty athletes lined up to start, ready to battle for the Stars and Stripes. Michael Larson (Bloomington, Ind.; Dash Racing p/b Westfield Cyclesports) 

and Terol Pursell (Lafayette, Colo.; Donovan Racing/ PB: AES) stuck together the entire race until the last lap when Pursell got caught up in race tape. Larson crossed the finish solo to defend his national title. Garrick Valverde (Lawrence, Kan.; Steve Tilford Foundation) rounded out the podium in third. 

Results: 

1. Michael Larson (Bloomington, Ind.; Dash Racing p/b Westfield Cyclesports) 

2. Terol Pursell (Lafayette, Colo.; Donovan Racing/ PB: AES) 

3. Garrick Valverde (Lawrence, Kan.; Steve Tilford Foundation) 

In the final masters race of the day. Twenty athletes competed for the national title. Throwing down screaming fast laps, some sub seven minutes, it was Issac Neff (Madison, Wis.; Neff Cycle Service) who ultimately won in a time of 41:29. Ryan Popple (Pittsburgh, Penn.; Cycle-Smart) earned silver, and Luke Principe (Rochester, N.Y.; Minuteman|Empire Automation p/b Full Moon Vista) secured bronze. 

Results: 

1. Issac Neff (Madison, Wis.; Neff Cycle Service) 

2. Ryan Popple (Pittsburgh, Penn.; Cycle-Smart) 

3. Luke Principe (Rochester, N.Y.; Minuteman|Empire Automation p/b Full Moon Vista) 

In one of the biggest fields of the day, the Collegiate Women had over 50 athletes across varsity and club categories. Securing gold by a mere eight seconds in the varsity wave, Lizzy Gunsalus (Indianapolis, Ind.; Marian University) had a fantastic ride in the final race of her collegiate career and earned the Stars and Stripes jersey. Makena Kellerman (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University) earned silver, and Nicole Bradbury (Brevard, N.C.; Brevard College) rounded out the podium in third. 

On the club side, sisters Alyssa Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; Purdue University) and Katherine Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; University of Maryland College Park) rode off the front and never looked back. In a two-up sprint, Alyssa crossed the line first to take home the win, and Katherine secured second. Elsa Westenfelder (Missoula, Mont.; University of Denver) had a strong performance to round out the podium in third.  

Varsity Women Results: 

1. Lizzy Gunsalus (Indianapolis, Ind.; Marian University) 

2. Makena Kellerman (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University) 

3. Nicole Bradbury (Brevard, N.C.; Brevard College) 

Club Women Results: 

1. Alyssa Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; Purdue University) 

2. Katherine Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; University of Maryland College Park) 

3. Elsa Westenfelder (Missoula, Mont.; University of Denver) 

In the final two races of the day, the Collegiate Varsity and Club Men set extremely fast lap times. The first to race were the club riders. Setting the pace early, Leif Bryan (Boulder, Colo.; University of Vermont) hit multiple sub-seven-minute laps. After completing a total of eight laps, he rode in to win the national title. Calvin Conaway (Indianapolis, Ind.; Indiana University Bloomington) secured silver, and Gavin Lopez (Englewood, Colo.; University of Colorado Boulder) rounded out the podium in third.  

On the varsity side, 61 riders lined up for their 50-minute race in Centennial Park. Spectators witnessed some of the fastest lap times of the day, seeing sub-six-and-a-half-minute laps. Ivan Sippy (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University), Brody McDonald (Escondido, Calif.; Milligan University), and Henry Coote (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University) gained an early gap, matching each other’s attacks lap after lap. With four laps to go, Coote overcooked a turn and lost contact with the leaders. On the next lap, Sippy gained a huge advantage over the group and rode in solo to claim the national title. McDonald was able to hang on for second; Coote rounded out the podium in third. 

Club Men Results: 

1. Leif Bryan (Boulder, Colo.; UVM Cycling) 

2. Calvin Conaway (Indianapolis, Ind.; Indiana University Bloomington) 

3. Gavin Lopez (Englewood, Colo.; University of Colorado Boulder) 

Varsity Men Results: 

1. Ivan Sippy (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University) 

2. Brody McDonald (Escondido, Calif.; Milligan University) 

3. Henry Coote (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University) 

Racing continues tomorrow with the Junior Men and Women 11-12, 10 and Under, Non-Champ Mixed Team Relay, Club and Varsity Collegiate Team Relay, and Singlespeed Men and Women. Click here for the full event schedule. 

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