Colorado Mesa University and Colorado School of Mines Win Team Omniums at 2026 Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships

The 2026 USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships concluded Saturday evening after an action-packed three days of racing at Powderhorn Mountain Resort. Colorado Mesa University and Colorado School of Mines captured the Team Omnium titles in their respective divisions. 

Racing kicked off on Thursday with Dual Slalom qualifiers and finals. Sara Ligman (Huntington Beach, Calif.; California Polytechnic-San Luis Obispo) clocked the fastest qualifying time for the Club Women and made it all the way to the final round to win gold. Pella Ward (Telluride, Colo.; California Polytechnic-San Luis Obispo) secured silver, and Avah Cherry (Knoxville, Tenn.; University of Utah) took bronze. On the Varsity Women’s side, Breanna Winter (Indianapolis, Ind.; Marian University) defended her National Title and claimed the Stars and Stripes jersey. Caitlyn Farmer (Columbia, Ky.; Lindsey Wilson University) and Mary McLarnon (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University) finished second and third, respectively. 

After ranking third in the Club Men’s qualifying round, Ben Mackenzie (Golden, Colo.; Colorado School of Mines) made his way to the final to win the National Title. Raul Gutierrez (Temecula, Calif.; California Polytechnic-San Luis Obispo) earned silver, and Eli Gadbois (Burlington, Vt.; University of Vermont) secured bronze. Jordan Callum (Indianapolis, Ind.; Marian University) clocked the fastest qualifying time for the Varsity Men and made it all the way to the final round to win the Stars and Stripes jersey. Ian Westerman (Columbia, Ky.; Lindsey Wilson University) and Christopher Grice (Banner Elk, N.C.; Lees-McRae College) finished second and third, respectively.

Over 250 endurance athletes lined up to take on the 2.1-mile Cross-Country course on Friday. The Club Men were first to take off for six laps, where Ben Stokes (Norwalk, Conn.; Colorado School of Mines) outpaced the competition, ultimately distancing himself from the group by over two minutes to win the National Title. Jacob Allen (Millcreek, Utah; University of Utah) and JustinPeck (Boulder, Colo.; University of Colorado Boulder) finished second and third, respectively. In the Varsity Men’s race, Austin Beard (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University) crossed the line solo to win the Stars and Stripes jersey. Kai Lokey (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University) secured silver, and Toby Hassett (Durango, Colo.; Fort Lewis College) earned bronze.

Elin Hartmann (Minneapolis, Minn.; Colorado State University) defended her Club Women’s National Title and claimed the Stars and Stripes jersey with a time of 1:12:18. Zoe Peterson (Herber City, Utah; University of Utah) secured silver, and Anna Haemer (Greenwood Village, Colo.; Colorado School of Mines) earned bronze. On the Varsity Women’s side, Jette Aelken (Savannah, Ga.; Savannah College of Art and Design) was the first rider to cross the finish line, winning the Stars and Stripes jersey with a time of 1:09:38. Eliska Hanakova (Banner Elk, N.C.; Lees-McRae College) and Lily-RoseMarois (Brevard, N.C.; Brevard College) finished second and third, respectively.

Friday concluded with the Team Relay races. Brevard College captured the win in the Varsity race, with Fort Lewis College taking second, and Lees-McRae College earning third. In the Club race, Colorado School of Mines secured the win. University of Utah earned second, and University of Colorado Boulder took third.

Downhill finals took place on Saturday morning, and the Club Men were first up with a field of 52 riders. Trevor Kornmesser (Colorado Springs, Colo.; Colorado School of Mines) claimed the Stars and Stripes jersey, finishing with a time of 5:20.78. Justin Peck claimed silver, and Aaron Bailey (Ashland, Ore.; Southern Oregon University) earned bronze. Travis Boucher (Durango, Colo.; Fort Lewis College) clocked the fastest run of the day to claim the Varsity Men’s National Title with a time of 5:11.41. Lars Graeter (Columbia, Ky.; Lindsey Wilson University) finished second with a time of 5:13.10, followed by Louison Arnaud (Columbia, Ky.; Lindsey Wilson University) in third.

Sara Ligman came out on top in the Club Women’s race, stopping the clock at 5:53.93 to win her second National Title of the week. Five-tenths of a second behind Ligman was Avah Cherry, who claimed silver. Aila Harmala (Silverthorne, Colo.; Colorado School of Mines) earned bronze. Colorado Mesa University went one-two in the Varsity Women’s race, with Mary McLarnon and Maylei Leaneagh (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University) earning gold and silver, respectively. McLarnon stopped the clock at 5:44.31, and Leaneagh finished with a time of 5:45.22. Matilda Gentry (Brevard, N.C.; Brevard College) finished in third.

The championship concluded on Saturday with Short Track. Following an afternoon rainstorm, riders would face wet and muddy conditions. The Club Men set the stage as the first group to take on the 0.7-mile course for 20 minutes of racing. Spectators were treated to an impressive show of strength and resilience by Nathan Dutton (Highland, Utah; Brigham Young University) as he set the pace, ultimately distancing himself from the group by over one minute to win the National Title. Preston Johnson (Springville, Utah; University of Utah) and Jacob Allen (Morgan, Utah; University of Utah) finished second and third, respectively. The excitement was palpable as the Club Women launched out of the start. Zoe Peterson rode consistently and crossed the line solo to win the Stars and Stripes jersey. Anna Haemer finished 17 seconds later to claim silver, and McKenna Marino (Fort Collins, Colo.; Colorado State University) earned bronze.

Eighty riders toed the line for the Varsity Men’s race, and the pace was high from the whistle. In a thrilling battle for the Stars and Stripes, Austin Beard claimed the victory, winning his second National Title of the week. Carson Beard (Durango, Colo.; Fort Lewis College) finished eight seconds later to secure silver, and Toby Hassett rounded it out in third. The energy was at an all-time high as the Varsity Women took to the line for the final race of the day. Jette Aelken launched an early attack, maintained her momentum, and crossed the line solo to win her second Stars and Stripes jersey of the week. It was a close race for silver between Brevard College teammates Lily-Rose Marois and Elli Clark (Brevard, N.C.; Brevard College). Marois accelerated in the final lap to secure second place by a margin of four seconds, and Clark rounded it out in third. 

The ultimate award at Collegiate Mountain Bike Nationals is the Omnium Award. The Omnium is the best all-around performance for individuals and teams, Varsity and Club. 

Club Men’s Individual Omnium Results:

1. Justin Peck (Boulder, Colo.; University of Colorado Boulder)

2. Cedar Bremner (Boulder, Colo.; University of Colorado Boulder)

3. Brendan Giles (Golden, Colo.; Colorado School of Mines)

Club Women’s Individual Omnium Results:

1. Avah Cherry (Knoxville, Tenn.; University of Utah)

2. Gilly Millar (San Luis Obispo, Calif.; California Polytechnic-San Luis Obispo)

3. Sydney Mulholland (Littleton, Colo.; University of Colorado Boulder)

Varsity Men’s Individual Omnium Results:

1. Carson Beard (Durango, Colo.; Fort Lewis College)

2. Toby Hassett (Durango, Colo.; Fort Lewis College)

3. Lars Graeter (Columbia, Ky.; Lindsey Wilson University)

Varsity Women’s Individual Omnium Results:

1. Lily-Rose Marois (Brevard, N.C.; Brevard College)

2. Elli Clark (Brevard, N.C.; Brevard College)

3. Lacey Dennis (Brevard, N.C.; Brevard College)

Varsity Team Omnium Results:

1. Colorado Mesa University – 664 points

2. Fort Lewis College – 612 points 

3. Brevard College – 610 points 

Club Team Omnium Results:

1. Colorado School of Mines – 640 points 

2. University of Colorado Boulder – 588 points 

3. California Polytechnic-San Luis Obispo – 540 points

Full results for the 2026 USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships can be found here. 

Based on results from the 2026 Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships, USA Cycling has awarded automatic qualification spots for the 2026 Collegiate All-Star Team. The full team of twelve athletes will be comprised of six men and six women selected through automatic qualification and petition spots. Qualifications for selection are as follows: 

• Varsity Team Omnium winner: One male and one female selected by the team.
• Club Team Omnium winner: One male and one female selected by the team.
• Varsity Men’s Individual Omnium winner and Varsity Women’s Individual Omnium winner.
• Club Men’s Individual Omnium winner and Club Women’s Individual Omnium winner.
• An additional four spots – two male and two female – will be open for petition applicants and reviewed by USA Cycling.

*If an invitation is not accepted from an individual result, USA Cycling will then invite the next appropriate athlete based on results. All petitions are due by no later than the end of day on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.

The 2026 Collegiate All-Star Team will come together on November 7, 2026, in Traverse City, Mich. to compete at the Iceman Cometh Challenge, one of the most iconic mountain bike races in the United States.

For more information regarding the Collegiate All-Star Team, contact Vanessa Drummond at vdrummond@usacycling.org.

After an incredible two years in Grand Junction, Colo., the USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships will head to Bentonville, Ark. for the next two years.