The 2024 USA Cycling Cross-Country Mountain Bike National Championships continued Friday at Bear Creek Mountain Resort. Blue skies and cooler weather rolled in, giving some needed relief from the previous days’ heat.
The Junior Men 11-12 kicked off the morning races. Chase O’Donnell (Delmar, N.Y.; Capital Bicycle Racing Club) outpaced Weston Elkins (Ramona, Calif.; Elkins Bros Racing) and earned the National Title.
In the Junior Women’s 11-12 race, Jocelyn Schouten (Plymouth, Wis.; Linear Sport MTN Bike Team), Samantha Weaver (Grand Haven, Mich.; West Michigan Coyotes), and Josie Malhame (Columbus, Ohio; Columbus Academy) formed the winning move early in the first lap. Malhame attacked on the final lap, distanced herself from the group by a 22-second gap, and took home the Stars and Stripes jersey.
In the Junior Men’s 13-14 race, 74 starters took the line. Sean Davies (Los Altos, Calif.; San Jose Bicycle Club) and Roenen King-Ellison (Plymouth, Minn.; NCYD p/b Donkey Label Racing) worked together to gain 44-seconds over the field after the first lap. Ultimately, King-Ellison lost time in the final lap. Davies was the first rider to cross the finish line, winning the National Title with a time of 47:44.
In the Junior Women’s 13-14 race, multi-discipline and multi-time National Champion Lilliana O’Donnell (Delmar, N.Y.; Capital Bicycle Racing Club) rode away from the competition on the first lap and powered to the finish to win her first National Title in Cross-Country Mountain Bike. Thursday’s XCC National Champion, Leah Morozowich (Scottsdale, Ariz.; Durango Devo) finished second, and her sister, Anna Morozowich (Scottsdale, Ariz.; Durango Devo), rounded out the top three.
Returning champion, Paula Coyos (Elkridge, Md.; Patapsco Bicycles/Knobby by Nature), rode consistent lap times to defend her amateur National Title with a time of 1:21:48. Kelly Enos (Rochester, Mass.; Endurance Thread/Ride Maple) won gold by a 27-minute margin in the Women’s 30-34. Teresa Laird (Richmond, Va.; Carborocket) was victorious in the Women’s 35-39.
In the Women’s 40-44, Joy Franco (Brookline, Mass.; Cycle-Smart/Landry’s Boston) rode away with gold. Kristen Smith (San Clemente, Calif.; BagHouse) held the lead from the start to win the Women’s 45-49. In the Women’s 50-54, Cassie Smith (Morgantown, W.Va.; Pathfinder of WV) defended her National Title with a time of 1:24:26. Elizabeth Sheldon (Washington, D.C.; CXD: Trek Bikes), took the win by over 6-minutes in the Women’s 55-59. Returning champion, Laurie Brandt (Montrose, Colo.; Bicycle Outfitters), won the Women’s 60-64 race, defending her National Title. Ellen White, (Tuxedo Park, N.Y.; Bicycle Workshop) was victorious and added another National Jersey to her collection in the Women’s 65-69.
In the Men’s 19-29 race, Jordan Porter (St. George, Utah; ACCEL Cycling) attacked out of a group of five riders on the final lap and gained a 10-second lead to win the Stars and Stripes. Late registrant, John Cox (Flat Rock, N.C.; Contour MTB), received the last call up spot, but that didn’t stop him from taking the win by 36-seconds in the Men’s 30-34. In the Men’s 35-39, Cory Peterson (Annapolis, Md.; Annapolis Bicycle Racing Team) outsprinted Jake Sitler (Marietta, Pa.; Endo Cafe) at the line to bring home gold. Only 7-seconds separated the top-5 riders for most of the Men’s 40-44 race. On the last lap, Brian McCulloch (Yucaipa, Calif.; Big Wheel Coaching) put in a huge effort to gain the advantage and finish in first. Jeremiah Bishop (Harrisonburg, Va.; Bishop Racing), knowing these trails like the back of his hand, took a demanding win in the Men’s 45-49 with a time of 1:06:13.
Reigning 2023 Junior Women’s 15-16 National Champion, Zanna Logar (Davis, W.Va.; The Gravity Collective), and 2023 Junior Women’s 13-14 National Champion, Aida Linton (Missoula, Mont.; Bear National Team), were the two to watch today in the Junior Women’s 15-16 race. They both took full advantage of their front row call-ups, never lost their lead, and gained nearly 1-minute on the rest of the field after lap one. Going into the second lap, Linton attacked and held a 30-second lead to the finish, winning the National Title with a time of 1:03:17. When Linton was asked about her victory ride she said, “It was really fun, I felt really good…My legs felt good, my lungs felt good, I liked the course.” She will line up to race XCC on Sunday. Logar finished second with Raina Logar (Davis, W.Va.; The Gravity Collective) in third.
A full field of 120 riders lined up for the Junior Men’s 15-16 race. With tensions high, the start was fast and furious to get good positioning. The steep hills and rock garden singletrack broke up the field quickly. On the first lap, Rowan Nistal (Boise, Idaho; Bear National Team) and Isaac Cole (Flagstaff, Ariz.; Waite Endurance) found the front early. Rowan broke away in the second lap and powered into the last lap with a 47-second advantage. Averaging 18-minute laps, Nistal won the National Title with an impressive time of 54:04. Nistal was even-keeled and excited after the finish saying, “I just knew I had to set my pace the whole time because I know I don’t have a very big punch…so I just kind of treated it like a solo TT, rode my own race, kept it smooth on the downhill.” Cole finished second with a time of 55:08 and Logan Drevlow (Golden Valley, Minn.) rounded it out in third.
Full results for day two, and live timing for day three, can be found here.
Photo By: First Place Photo
Saturday will feature the highly anticipated marquee events, where the Junior 17-18, Under-23, and Elite racers will be competing for the Stars and Stripes.
