Day two of the 2021 USA Cycling Junior, Elite, and Para-cycling Track National Championships saw fast and fun racing at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Breinigsville, Pa.
Our morning kicked off with the Elimination races. Continuing to throw down dominating performances, Kaia Schmid (Marblehead, Mass.; Lux/Sideshow p/b Specialized) won the Women's 17-18 Elimination race. Schmid has been racing since she was 7 years old and is becoming a household name in American cycling. Just last month she won the Criterium race at the 2021 USA Cycling Road Nationals in her respective age category. Grant Carter (Macungie, Pa.; dcdevo Racing Academy) also pedaled his way to a stars and stripes jersey in the Men's 17-18 elimination race. Carter has also been dominating his races this week.
The Elite Men's Elimination race was action-packed. After yesterday's standout performance, John Croom (Colorado Springs, Colo.; Contravans) took home gold. On the Elite Women's side, Colleen Gulick (Spring City, Pa.; Podium Sports Cycling) outrode Schmid to take the win.
Keirin and Scratch races took place during the evening session. In the Men's 15-18 Keirin, Dakota Stein (Orwigsburg, Pa.; Edge Cycling) won over Grayson Hauck (Allentown, Pa.; dcdevo Racing Academy). Stein has been unstoppable all week and actually punched his ticket yesterday to qualify for worlds.
The Scratch races this evening were full of action. Schmid continued to outperform her competition. Schmid ended up taking the win in the Women's 17-18 Scratch race. Carter had a show-stopping performance and sprinted his way to a gold medal in the Men's 17-18 Scratch race, adding to his victory from the morning. In the Women's 15-18 Keirin, Mia Deye (Geigertown, Pa.; Star Track Cycling) left the crowd in complete awe when she sealed the deal on her first-place finish.
"Mia trained through the uncertainty of the pandemic to take the win, and we couldn't be prouder. She's a prime example of what it means to be part of the Star Track Cycling program," said Pete Taylor (Executive Director of the Star Track Cycling program).
Deye will be the second rider from the Star Track program to punch her ticket to worlds. "We believe Mia's performance over the last two days highlights Star Track's commitment to developing juniors specifically junior women's talent in American Track cycling. We hope that Mia inspires not just our athletes, but all junior women to strive for success," said Taylor.
In the Elite Women's Keirin, Mandy Marquardt (Allentown, Pa.; Team Novo Nordisk) won yet another national title on her home track. On the Elite Men's side, Evan Boone (Sierra Vista, Ariz.; ASCP Elite) grabbed gold after a strong performance on the track. In our Elite Women's Scratch race Elspeth Huyett (Emmaus Pa.; IamIcanIwillIdo) took the top spot. This is Huyett's first national title and she earned it by throwing down an absolutely incredible sprint finish.
The last race of the day was the Men's Scratch race final. Kyle Perry (Indianapolis, Ind.; Texas Roadhouse Cycling) had a show-stopping performance on the track this evening. He managed to pull away from the group and was never caught. He had one of the best performances of the evening.
Racing continues tomorrow morning with our Men's and Women's Sprint and Pursuit races.
You can follow the action on USA Cycling’s @usacyclinglive Twitter account as well as the @usacycling Instagram account.
You can find full results by clicking here.
