The 2025 USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships concluded Sunday afternoon 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 with Short Track on Thursday. In the Club Men’s race, Ben Stokes (Norwalk, Conn.; Colorado School of Mines) crossed the line first to win the National Title. Preston Johnson (Springville, Utah; University of Utah) finished 29 seconds later to claim silver, and Jack Lootens (Flagstaff, Ariz.; Northern Arizona University Cycling) earned bronze. On the Club Women's side, Mahika Peterson (Boise, Idaho; Colorado School of Mines) outsprinted Elin Hartmann (Minneapolis, Minn.; Colorado State University) to win the Stars and Stripes jersey. Anna Haemer (Greenwood Village, Colo.; Colorado School of Mines) secured bronze.
In the Varsity division, Ivan Sippy (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University) crossed the line solo and claimed victory in the men's race. Colin O’Neil (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University) secured silver, and Jack Spranger (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University) took bronze. In the women’s race, Makena Kellerman (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University) won the Stars and Stripes jersey after finishing in a time of 19:52. Nicole Bradbury (Brevard, N.C.; Brevard College) and Jette Aelken (Savannah, Ga.; Savannah College of Art and Design) finished second and third, respectively.
Due to record-breaking rainfall moving into Grand Junction over the weekend, the decision was made to move the Cross-Country races into Thursday’s schedule. The Club Men were first to take on the 2.2-mile XCO course for 75 minutes. It was a sprint to the finish between Justin Peck (Los Gatos, Calif.; UC Berkeley) and Johnson, with Peck making the final push to win gold. Stokes secured bronze. On the Varsity Men’s side, Sippy crossed the line solo once more, winning his second Stars and Stripes jersey of the day. Owen Clark (Brevard, N.C.; Brevard College) earned silver, and O’Neil took bronze.
Hartmann had an incredible race and won the Club Women’s National Title with a time of 1:20:29. Peterson and Haemer finished second and third, respectively. On the Varsity Women’s side, Bailey Cioppa (Durango, Colo.; Fort Lewis College) outpaced the competition, ultimately distancing herself from the group by over three minutes to win the Stars and Stripes jersey. Kellerman secured silver, and Elisabeth Knight (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University) earned bronze.
Team Relay races closed out the first day of events. In the Varsity race, Colorado Mesa University snagged the overall win, with Brevard College taking second, and Fort Lewis College earning third. In the Club race, Colorado School of Mines took the win. California Polytechnic-San Luis Obispo earned second, and Colorado State University secured third.
Given the weekend’s storm track and impending weather, Downhill races were moved to Friday, in an effort to grant riders the opportunity to race and be awarded in this discipline. Club Women were first up, where Gwen Ramsey (San Luis Obispo, Calif.; California Polytechnic-San Luis Obispo) defended her National Title, finishing in 8:01.597. Avah Cherry (Knoxville, Tenn.; University of Tennessee) stopped the clock at 8:33.324 to secure silver. Aila Harmala (Silverthorne, Colo.; Colorado School of Mines) earned bronze. Colorado Mesa University went one-two in the Varsity Women’s race, with Maylei Leaneagh (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University) and Tai-Lee Smith (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University) earning gold and silver, respectively. Leaneagh finished in 8:06.751, and Smith stopped the clock with a time of 8:07.312. Mya Dixon (Brevard, N.C.; Brevard College) took bronze.
The Club Men’s field was 55 riders deep. Aaron Bailey (Ashland, Ore.; Southern Oregon University) came out on top, stopping the clock at 7:17.923 to take home the Stars and Stripes jersey. Peck claimed silver, and Lucian Rodriguez (Boulder, Colo.; University of Colorado Boulder) took bronze. Carson Beard (Durango, Colo.; Fort Lewis College) clocked the fastest run of the day to win the Varsity Men’s National Title with a time of 6:51.509. Matthew Leliveld (Brevard, N.C.; Brevard College) finished second with a time of 7:08.137, followed by Jack Spranger (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University) in third.
Racing concluded on Sunday with Dual Slalom qualifiers and finals. The top-seeded rider for the Club Women, Avah Cherry, made it all the way to the final round to win gold. Haydn Hludzinski (Boulder, Colo.; University of Utah) secured silver, and Gillian Millar (San Luis Obispo, Calif.; California Polytechnic-San Luis Obispo) took bronze. On the Varsity Women’s side, Breanna Winter (Indianapolis, Ind.; Marian University) defended her National Title and took home the Stars and Stripes jersey. Oona Nelson (Durango, Colo.; Fort Lewis College) and Lily-Rose Marois (Brevard, N.C.; Brevard College) finished second and third, respectively.
After ranking second in the Club Men’s qualifying round, Andrew Driscoll (Bow, N.H.; University of Vermont) made his way to the final to win the National Title. Ben Mackenzie (Golden, Colo.; Colorado School of Mines) earned silver, and Josh Billow (Bow, N.H; Clarkson University) took bronze. The top-seeded rider for the Varsity Men, Grant Lampson (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University), made his way to the final round to win the Stars and Stripes. Jordan Callum (Indianapolis, Ind.; Marian University) and Dominic Mudry (Banner Elk, N.C.; Lees-McRae College) finished second and third, respectively.
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 Women’s Individual Omnium Results:
1. Avah Cherry (Knoxville, Tenn.; University of Tennessee)
2. Gwen Ramsey (San Luis Obispo, Calif.; California Polytechnic-San Luis Obispo)
3. Gillian Millar (San Luis Obispo, Calif.; California Polytechnic-San Luis Obispo)
Varsity Women’s Individual Omnium Results:
1. Nicole Bradbury (Brevard, N.C.; Brevard College)
2. Lily-Rose Marois (Brevard, N.C.; Brevard College)
3. Oona Nelson (Durango, Colo.; Fort Lewis College)
Club Men’s Individual Omnium Results:
1. Justin Peck (Los Gatos, Calif.; UC Berkeley)
2. Luke Leavitt (Boulder, Colo.; Colorado State University)
3. Simon Phipps (Norwich, Vt.; California Polytechnic-San Luis Obispo)
Varsity Men’s Individual Omnium Results:
1. Jack Spranger (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University)
2. Carson Beard (Durango, Colo.; Fort Lewis College)
3. Ian Schwing (Savannah, Ga.; Savannah College of Art and Design)
Varsity Team Omnium Results:
1. Colorado Mesa University – 676 points
2. Brevard College – 635 points
3. Fort Lewis College – 612 points
Club Team Omnium Results:
1. Colorado School of Mines – 621 points
2. California Polytechnic-San Luis Obispo – 593 points
3. University of Utah – 549 points
Full results for the 2025 USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships can be found here.
