Louisville, Ky. – December 15, 2024 – The 2024 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships concluded on Sunday after a full day of junior and masters racing. Overnight showers dramatically altered the course conditions, adding an extra layer of challenge. With large junior fields, today’s events were some of the biggest highlights of the week. Racing was officially closed out with the Singlespeed Men.
Thirty-four riders lined up for the 10 and under race as the sun started to rise over Joe Creason Park. Colton Morrison (Macungie, Pa.; IYCX-Voler p/b GRC) set a blistering face pace from the gun. He finished in a time of 20:04, almost two minutes ahead of second place finisher David Boryczewski (Weatogue, Conn., CCAP Farmington Valley Youth Cycling). Shane Tyrrell (Parkton, Md.; Baltimore Youth Cycling) was another 40-seconds back.
1. Colton Morrison (Macungie, Pa.; IYCX-Voler p/b GRC)
2. David Boryczewski (Weatogue, Conn., CCAP Farmington Valley Youth Cycling)
3. Shane Tyrrell (Parkton, Md.; Baltimore Youth Cycling)
For the men’s race in the morning, it was a battle between Jack O’Donnell (Delmar, N.Y.; Capital Bicycle Racing Club) and Cooper Wells (Durango, Colo.; TWL), son of Olympic mountain biker Todd Wells. O’Donnell led for the first half of the race, but Wells was hopping over the barriers and gaining time each lap after starting in the back of the group. Wells was able to cross the line in first by 35-seconds, winning his first national title. Gustaf Hamblen (Winston-Salem, N.C.; Velocious Sport) rode to third.
1. Cooper Wells (Durango, Colo.; TWL)
2. Jack O’Donnell (Delmar, N.Y.; Capital Bicycle Racing Club)
3. Gustaf Hamblen (Winston-Salem, N.C.; Velocious Sport)
In the women’s race, Amelia Abraham (Littleton, Colo.; Avout Racing) looked strong off the start line and stayed calm throughout the race, but Annabelle Boryczewski (Weatogue, Conn.; CCAP Farmington Valley Youth Cycling) was chasing from behind. Abraham and Boryczewski went side by side into the barriers, but Abraham was able to get the advantage and take the win by 18-seconds over Boryczewski. Naomi Harcum (Parkton, Md.; Baltimore Youth Cycling) rounded out the podium in third.
1. Amelia Abraham (Littleton, Colo.; Avout Racing)
2. Annabelle Boryczewski (Weatogue, Conn.; CCAP Farmington Valley Youth Cycling)
3. Naomi Harcum (Parkton, Md.; Baltimore Youth Cycling)
Racing continued with the Junior Men 13-14 who had one of the biggest fields of the week with a total of 80 riders. Leading from the start, Severin McCarter (Lawrence, Kan.; Sunflower Outdoor and Bike/ Move Up Cycling Club) dominated at the front. With two sub 10-minute laps, he finished his race in a time of 18:54 and earned the national title. Josiah Bower (Cranberry Twp, Pa.; Stinkbug Nationals) earned silver, and Ian Marks (Baltimore, Md.; Sportif Coaching Group / AVC). secured bronze.
1. Severin McCarter (Lawrence, Kan.; Sunflower Outdoor and Bike/ Move Up Cycling Club)
2. Josiah Bower (Cranberry Twp, Pa.; Stinkbug Nationals)
3. Ian Marks (Baltimore, Md.; Sportif Coaching Group / AVC)
The Cole sister duo of Abby Cole and Lily Cole (East Granby, Conn.; Competitive Edge Racing)
took on the 13-14 race setting the pace early on. Abby was able to take the win, finishing 20-seconds ahead of her sister Lily. Hannah Dinolfo (Troy, N.Y. Capital Bicycle Racing Club) finished third with a large gap on the rest of the field.
1. Abby Cole (East Granby, Conn.; Competitive Edge Racing)
2. Lily Cole (East Granby, Conn.; Competitive Edge Racing)
3. Hannah Dinolfo (Troy, N.Y.; Capital Bicycle Racing Club)
Sixty-eight riders took to the line for a muddy and technical three-lap, 30-minute race. Matthew Crabbe (Buford, Ga.; Finkraft Junior Cycling Team) was one to watch after winning the 13-14 race two years in a row and starting today’s race as the reigning champion. He set blistering fast lap times, riding his second lap under 9-minutes. He crossed the finish line a minute over second place finisher, Jack Helvie (Noblesville, Ind.; Midwest Devo). Rylan Zacharek (Sheboygan, Wis.; Broken Spoke Devo) worked his way up through the field to finish in the bronze medal position.
1. Matthew Crabbe (Buford, Ga.; Finkraft Junior Cycling Team)
2. Jack Helvie (Noblesville, Ind.; Midwest Devo)
3. Rylan Zacharek (Sheboygan, Wis.; Broken Spoke Devo)
Race favorite Lilliana O’Donnell (Delmar, N.Y.; Finkraft Junior Cycling Team) lined up with 31 other riders to compete in the Junior Women 15-16 category. O’Donnell immediately rode to the front with Delaney Meegan (Littleton, Colo.; Avout Racing) hot on her heels. As the lap counter ticked down, the two battled back and forth until O’Donnell bobbled in the mud, allowing Meegan to breakaway and win. O’Donnell secured second place and Graden Daume (Missoula, Mont.; Team Stampede/Five Valley Velo) earned third.
1. Delaney Meegan (Littleton, Colo.; Avout Racing)
2. Lilliana O’Donnell (Delmar, N.Y.; Finkraft Junior Cycling Team)
3. Graden Daume (Missoula, Mont.; Team Stampede/Five Valley Velo)
Four separate masters categories started in the Masters Women 55+ wave. 58-year-old Elizabeth Sheldon (Washington, D.C.; CXD Trek Bikes) set the pace averaging 12-minute laps and eventually won by 30-sconds over Julie Robertson Zivin (Seattle, Wash.; PNW Colavita Factor). Stephanie Uetrecht (Bend, Ore.; Deschutes Brewery Cycling Team) finished on the lead lap to take third.
Paula Brunetto (West Cornwall, Conn.) won the 60-64 race after completing three laps in 40-minutes of racing. Karen Tripp (Brevard, N.C; Finkraft Cycling Team) finished not far off to take the 65-69 National Title.
Our oldest racer in the women’s category was Tove Shere (Cleveland Heights, Ohio; Team Lake Effect Cycling) riding to the win in the 70-74 category at 72 years old.
1. Elizabeth Sheldon (Washington, D.C.; CXD Trek Bikes)
2. Julie Robertson Zivin (Seattle, Wash.; PNW Colavita Factor)
3. Stephanie Uetrecht (Bend, Ore.; Deschutes Brewery Cycling Team)
1. Paula Brunetto (West Cornwall, Conn.)
2. Kim Chance (The Colony, Texas; Matrix Cycling p/b Bike Mart)
3. Michele Bliss (Boulder, Colo.; Feedback Sports)
1. Karen Tripp (Brevard, N.C; Finkraft Cycling Team)
2. Barbara Schueler (Waukesha Wis.; Hampshire Cycle Club)
1. Tove Shere (Cleveland Heights, Ohio; Team Lake Effect Cycling)
Returning champion, Melanie Carter (Evergreen, Colo.; Feedback Sports) rode a smooth race through a technical track weaving through Joe Creason Park. She managed her efforts and rode to the finish line to win the 45-49 national title. April Beard (Columbus, Wis.; Trek Midwest) ended up in the silver medal position and Hannah Tell (Lawrence, Kan.; Sunflower Outdoor and Bike) took bronze.
1. Melanie Carter (Evergreen, Colo.; Feedback Sports)
2. April Beard (Columbus, Wis.; Trek Midwest)
3. Hannah Tell (Lawrence, Kan.; Sunflower Outdoor and Bike)
Kristin Weber (Boulder, Colo.; Lockton Full Cycling Team) put on a masterclass in the Women’s 50-54 race. She was able to ride away from the start and win by over a minute. Bonnie Symes (South Wales, N.Y.; Campus Wheelworks) earned second, and Christina Gokey-Smith (Denton, Texas; Matrix Cycling p/b Bike Mart) took bronze.
1. Kristin Weber (Boulder, Colo.; Lockton Full Cycling Team)
2. Bonnie Symes (South Wales, N.Y.; Campus Wheelworks)
3. Christina Gokey-Smith (Denton, Texas.; Matrix Cycling p/b Bike Mart)
Fifty-five riders took to the line for the Men’s Singlespeed race. Returning champion, Kerry Werner (Vinton, Va.; Groove Off Road Racing) was the race favorite as the group lined up for their 40-minute race. After the first half lap, Ryan Drummond (Moore, Okla.; Oklahoma Flyers), Werner, and Brannan Fix (Fort Collins, Colo.; Fix Racing) were all together. Things really started to change on the second lap when Werner had his fastest lap of the day. As he pulled away, a new group formed behind him. The race for second was between Drummond, Gage Hecht (Parker, Colo.; Team Winston Salem), and Cypress Gory (Pisgah Forest, N.C.; Rouleur Coaching/Specialized). Hecht gained a few seconds advantage on his last lap which allowed him to roll in to earn second, Drummond riding into third.
After the race, Werner said, “It was a tough one. It was a really hard race to pick a gear for because the top section was pretty fast then the whole mansion hill into pit 2 was really slow and muscley. In not-so-typical singlespeed fashion, you kind of needed a pit bike because it was getting really heavy out there. I accidentally took Ryan [Drummond] into a stake then I was kind of solo for the rest of the race, so I didn't have to worry about anyone else and could just pick my own line.”
1. Kerry Werner (Vinton, Va.; Groove Off Road Racing)
2. Gage Hecht (Parker, Colo.; Team Winston Salem)
3. Ryan Drummond (Moore, Okla.; Oklahoma Flyer)
Full results can be found here.
Thank you for tuning in for another year of Cyclocross Nationals! After an incredible two years in Louisville, Ky., the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships will head to Fayetteville, Ark. for the next two years, starting with the first event on December 11-14, 2025.
Photo By: Snowy Mountain Photography
