Coote and Kellerman Earn Under-23 National Titles at the 2025 Cyclocross National Championships p/b The Meteor

Racing continued Saturday at Centennial Park for the penultimate day of the 2025 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships p/b The Meteor, featuring Masters Women 30-54, Junior Women 17-18, and the Men and Women Under-23 events. Riders faced a chilly start to the morning with temperatures increasing for the afternoon races.

In the largest field of the day, 63 starters focused all of their energy on their 50-minute race. A chaotic opening lap and a crash at the back of the group split the field early, with the high pace doing more damage. Ryan Drummond (Moore, Okla.; Competitive Edge Racing), Jack Spranger (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University), and reigning national champion, Henry Coote (Manchester, Mass.; TRINITY Racing) opened an early gap, with Aidan Vollmuth (Mendham, N.J.; Donovan Racing) bridging across moments later. On lap two, Coote launched a hard attack and Spranger followed. Coote kept the pressure on and rode away from the rest of the leaders, looking smooth and in control. He was able to get a sizeable gap and even with a few mistakes, still crossed the line first to win the Stars and Stripes. Spranger held on for silver, while Drummond secured bronze.

After racing, Coote said, “The race went really well. I was able to make my way through the group and really focus on being steady throughout the whole race. I made a bit of a mistake, but I was able to come back and take the win today, which is super exciting.”

Results:

1. Henry Coote (Manchester, Mass.; TRINITY Racing)

2. Jack Spranger (Grand Junction, Colo.; Colorado Mesa University)

3. Ryan Drummond (Moore, Okla.; Competitive Edge Racing)

In one of the most exciting races of the day, 25 Under-23 Women lined up ready to battle. Kaya Musgrave (Littleton, Colo.; Pure Energy Drink / Haro Bikes by Corego) went straight to the front to set the pace. About halfway through the opening lap, an elite group of seven began to take shape, but Musgrave wanted more separation and attacked after the stair section. Makena Kellerman (Escondido, Calif.; Steve Tilford Foundation Racing) responded immediately, with current Pan-American Champion Mia Aseltine (Littleton, Colo.; Competitive Edge Racing) on her wheel. The pair shut down the gap by the start of lap two, forming a lead trio. Kellerman took control at the front and drove the pace but couldn’t shake Musgrave or Aseltine. With two laps to go, attacks started flying. A late mistake by Aseltine on an off-camber turn opened the door for a two-rider sprint between Musgrave and Kellerman. Kellerman surged on the finishing straight to win the Women’s Under-23 national title, with Aseltine rolling in to round out the podium.

“I’m pretty excited,” Kellerman said. “This is my first cyclocross national jersey and I’m honestly just so thankful and grateful I have this opportunity to be here racing against these other super-fast U23 cyclocross girls. This is my first year with Steve Tilford Foundation and I couldn’t be more thankful for the team that Raylynn [Nuss] has given me and the environment to do this in.”

Results:

1. Makena Kellerman (Escondido, Calif.; Steve Tilford Foundation Racing)

2. Kaya Musgrave (Littleton, Colo.; Pure Energy Drink / Haro Bikes by Corego)

3. Mia Aseltine (Littleton, Colo.; Competitive Edge Racing)

Twenty-seven riders toed the line for a shot at the coveted Stars and Stripes jersey. Ada Watson (Carboro, N.C.; CXD Trek Bikes) took the holeshot and set the pace from the start putting Kira Mullins (Littleton, Colo.; Bear National Team), Nicole Clamann (Chapel Hill, N.C.: Blue Ridge Cross), and Tessa Beebe (Boise, Idaho; BYRDS Cycling) on the defensive. By lap two, Watson had opened a 10 second gap on the chase group. Clamann lost contact, leaving Mullins and Beebe to work together to close the gap. Watson settled into a steady rhythm, saving energy through the toughest sections, but the early effort began to catch up with her. The pair made the catch, heading into the final lap, then pushed on and dropped Watson. Mullins went clear and rode solo to the win and the national title. Beebe secured second, and an exhausted Watson fought to the line for third.

“It was a super fun race, and super hard," said Mullins. “I stuck with Tessa for the first three laps and then noticed I was gaining on Ada [Watson]. I kind of just sent it passed her and hammered home from there and managed to win it all.”

Results:

1. Kira Mullins (Littleton, Colo.; Bear National Team)

2. Tessa Beebe (Boise, Idaho; BYRDS Cycling)

3. Ada Watson (Carrboro, N.C.; CXD Trek Bikes)

The field was stacked for the Junior Women’s 15-16 race, and the riders were ready to battle for the national title. After the first lap, the big hitters of Lilliana O’Donnell (Comp Edge Racing), Abby Cole (East Granby, Conn.; Competitive Edge Racing), Elena Svenstrup (Tiverton, R.I.; AP-CCB Junior development), and sisters Leah Morozowich and Anna Morozowich (Scottsdale, Ariz.; Blue Ridge Cross) set the pace at the front. O’Donnell, who was looking to improve on last year’s second place finish, had an unfortunate fumble and lost contact with the lead group, along with Leah. At the finish, Anna outsprinted Cole for the national title. Svenstrup rolled in seven seconds back to round out the podium. 

Results:

1. Anna Morozowich (Scottsdale, Ariz.; Blue Ridge Cross)

2. Abby Cole (East Granby, Conn.; Competitive Edge Racing)

3. Elena Svenstrup (Tiverton, R.I.; AP-CCB Junior development)

Twenty-five Junior Women 13-14 lined up for their 30-minute race, and the field stretched out quickly as riders powered off the line. On lap two, Lillian Hanna (Rexford, N.Y.; Grey Ghost S.T.A.R.S.) made her move from a group of four, opened a gap, and held it to the line to take the national title. Behind her, Ellie Minner (Lebanon, Ohio; Lionhearts Junior Racing) and Hannah Dinolfo (Troy, N.Y.; Competitive Edge Racing) fought for the final podium spots to the finish, with Dinolfo winning the sprint for second by less than a wheel.

Results:

1. Lillian Hanna (Rexford, N.Y.; Grey Ghost S.T.A.R.S.)

2. Hannah Dinolfo (Troy, N.Y.; Competitive Edge Racing)

3. Ellie Minner (Lebanon, Ohio; Lionhearts Junior Racing)

Three separate masters categories started in the Masters Women 30-44 wave. In the Women’s 35-39, Women’s Singlespeed National Champion, Caroline Dezendorf (Truckee, Calif.; Rock Lobster / Easton) and Carla Williams (Roanoke, Va.; Cardinal Bicycle) led the opening lap. Williams proved stronger on the day, gaining time on Dezendorf each lap to win the Stars and Stripes. Dezendorf earned silver, while Brittany Cowan (Durango, Colo.; Fort Lewis College) added a second bronze medal to her collection this week.

Erin Feldhausen (Madison, Wis.; Trek Midwest Team), Christin Reuter (Niwot, Colo.; BikeReg | Share Coffee), and Lauren Stephens (Dallas, Texas; Next Step p/b Aegis) marked each other throughout the Women’s 40-44 race. On lap three, Stephens attacked and split the lead group before riding solo to the national title. Feldhausen held on for second, with Reuter taking third.

Returning National Champion, Katherine Shields (Salt Lake City, Utah; Peak Fasteners) rode well to claim the Women’s 30-34 National Title. 

Women’s 30-34 Results:

1. Katherine Shields (Salt Lake City; Peak Fasteners)

2. Mei Zhao (Azusa, Calif.; SoCalCross)

Women’s 35-39 Results:

1. Carla Williams (Roanoke, Va.; Cardinal Bicycle)

2. Caroline Dezendorf (Truckee, Calif.; Rock Lobster / Easton)

3. Brittany Cowan (Durango, Colo.; Fort Lewis College)

Women’s 40-44 Results:

1. Lauren Stephens (Dallas; Next Step p/b Aegis)

2. Erin Feldhausen (Madison, Wis.; Trek Midwest Team)

3. Christin Reuter (Niwot, Colo.; BikeReg | Share Coffee)

Hannah Tell (Lawrence, Kan.; Steve Tilford Foundation) took the early lead in the Women’s 45-49 race, and didn’t look back. She rode solo for the entirety of the race, earning herself the Stars and Stripes jersey. Sarah Kaufman (Salt Lake City; K Cycling Coaching) put up a strong fight to keep Tell in eyeshot, but could not complete the catch, ultimately finishing in second. Holly Kruchoski (New Berlin, Wis.; Unsponsored Rider, LLC) came in for third, only two seconds back from Kaufman.

Women’s 45-49 Results:

1. Hannah Tell (Lawrence, Kan.; Steve Tilford Foundation)

2. Sarah Kaufman (Salt Lake City, Utah; K Cycling Coaching)

3. Holly Kruchoski (New Berlin, Wis.; Unsponsored Rider, LLC)

Returning champion, Kristin Weber (Longmont, Colo.; Lockton Mike’s Bikes), and Christina Gokey-Smith (Denton, Texas; Impact Racing Team P/b VeloRepublic) were locked together from the start, marking every attack. The battle came down to the final moments of the race when Weber gained a slight advantage over Gokey-Smith and held it to the finish, keeping the national title for another year. Evie Edwards (Asheville, N.C.; B.B. Barns Femmes) rode a consistent race to secure third.

Women’s 50-54 Results:

1. Kristin Weber (Longmont, Colo.; Lockton Mike’s Bikes)

2. Christina Gokey-Smith (Denton, Texas; Impact Racing Team P/b VeloRepublic)

3. Evie Edwards (Asheville, N.C.; B.B. Barns Femmes)

Full results for day four, and live timing for day five, can be found here.