GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. MAY 6, 2018 — The 2018 USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships concluded today with riders contesting the 6-corner criterium course in downtown Grand Junction. Along with criterium results, titles were given to the individual omnium winners, as well as the coveted team omnium awards.
Racing started with the club women’s race. Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Emma Edwards took the stars and stripe jersey, beating out some big names in a bunch sprint. Melanie Beale of Colorado State University was hot on her wheel, capturing silver. Road race and individual time trial champion Margot Clyne from University of Colorado – Boulder took the third step of the podium. University of Colorado – Denver’s Manuela Escobar and Lauren De Crescenzo finished out the podium, placing fourth and fifth respectively.
The varsity women picked up where the club women left off, putting up a hotly contested race. Defending collegiate criterium national champion, Erica Allar of Piedmont College, was able to maintain her title. Allar was able to win 3 out of the 6 points primes throughout the 60-minute race. Savannah College of Art & Design rider Judah Sencebaugh took second. Marian University’s Madison Kelly and Laurel Rathbun placed third and fourth respectively. Stephanie Nave of Milligan College finished out the podium in fifth.
Following the theme of the women’s race in the morning, the club men’s race was decided by a group sprint. Imeh Nsek of California State University – Fullerton pulled out the win in a close sprint. Fifth place in Friday’s road race, University of Nebraska – Lincoln rider John Borstelmann, finished in a close second, with third place, University of California – Los Angeles’ Eric Christenson, was decided by a few millimeters. Christopher Uberti of the University of Cincinnati finished fourth, with bronze medalist from the road race, Chaz Hogenauer of Colorado State University, rounding out the podium in fifth.
In the varsity men’s race, last year’s bronze medalist and individual omnium winner, Jonah Meadvancort of Lindenwood University, upgraded his hardware, seizing the gold. Marian University seniors, Ben Schmutte and Zachary Carlson finished second and fourth respectively. Fort Lewis College rider James Hilyer split the two Marian riders, taking home the bronze. Andrew Scarano of Savannah College of Art & Design – Atlanta was on the bottom step of the podium.
Individual omniums to determine the best all-around rider were held looking at the results from the road race, criterium, and points primes throughout the criterium. For the club women, University of Colorado – Boulder rider Margot Clyne took the top spot. Clyne’s win on Friday and bronze today bolstered her win. In the varsity women group, Piedmont College’s Erica Allar, duplicated her performance from last year. Her win in the criterium and domination of the primes today saw her in the stars and stripes for the omnium. With 2 podium visits in as many days, the club men’s winner John Borstelmann of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln seized his gold over a talented field. Marian University’s Ben Schmutte took home the gold in the omnium for varsity men. His double silver medal performance slayed the field.
It’s might feel like repeat season, with 3 our of 4 schools repeating their team omnium wins. University of Colorado – Boulder couldn’t be stopped this weekend, repeating their win in the club division 1 contest from last year. Having put all six of their riders in the top 15 of the road race, winning the men’s team time trial, and a strong showing in the criterium clinched their team omnium title. Colorado State University hot on their heels with solid performances in the men’s road race, women’s team time trial and the criterium planted them solidly in silver. Massachusetts Institute of Technology replicated their placing from last year, winning the club division 2 omnium again. U.S. Military Academy came in second, with strong showings in the women’s road race and team time trial.
Perennial varsity powerhouse Marian University came to play, scooping up their forty-first team omnium title. Marian’s total score of 532, bolstered by their team time trial dominance, in division 1 bested second place Colorado Mesa University, who scored 423. In varsity division 2, Piedmont College scored the overall win, with a point total of 254. This is Piedmont’s first team omnium title. Second place in this division Savannah College of Art & Design - Atlanta scored 238 points, bolstered by great riders from Mackenzie Myatt in the road race and Sencebaugh in the criterium.
