The 2024 USA Cycling Elite & Para-Cycling Track National Championships kicked off on Thursday with Men’s and Women’s Sprint, Men’s and Women’s Omnium, Women’s C1-5 Time Trial, and Men’s and Women’s BVI Time Trial.
Shawn Morelli (Leavenworth, Kan.; DNA Cycling) took home gold in Para C4 Women 500m Time Trial with a time of 43.606. Hannah Chadwick (Hayward, Colo.; US Paracycling) and Skyler Espinoza (Melo Park, Clif.) took home gold in Para BVI Women Kilo Time Trial with a time of 1:11.946. Branden Walton (Livermore, Calif.) and Spencer Seggebruch (Saint Louis, Mo.; Chaney Windows and Doors) took home gold in Para BVI Men Kilo Time Trial with a time of 1:06.225.
Moving into the evening, it all came down to crowning new National Champions in the Men’s Sprint, Women’s Sprint, Men’s Omnium, and Women’s Omnium.
WOMEN’S SPRINT
In the Semi-Final, Emily Hayes (York, S.C.) and Mary Wintz (Cincinnati, Ohio; VeloFemme p/b Litzler) battled it out in Heat 1, while Kayla Hankins (Scottsdale, Ariz.; American Sprint Cycling Program) and McKenna McKee (Vancouver, Wash.; Kirk Whiteman Coaching) went head-to-head in Heat 2. Hayes and McKee moved through to the Final where McKee won both heats, winning the National Title. This win also earned McKee the Stars and Stripes jersey for the U23 category. Hayes earned silver and Hankins rounded out the podium with bronze.
Results:
1. McKenna McKee (Vancouver, Wash.; Kirk Whiteman Coaching)
2. Emily Hayes (York, S.C.)
3. Kayla Hankins (Scottsdale, Ariz.; American Sprint Cycling Program)
MEN’S SPRINT
In the Semi-Final, Evan Boone (Sierra Vista, Ariz.; Performance Cycle Coaching) and Wyatt Paul (Seattle, Wash.; Water Line Racing) battled it out in Heat 1, while Dalton Walters (Long Beach, Calif.) and Finn Koller (Bethlehem, Pa.; Edge Cycling) went head-to-head in Heat 2. Walters and Boone moved through to the Final where the race for gold would come down to a powerful third ride. Boone won the National Title by 0.031. Walters earned silver and Koller rounded out the podium with bronze. Koller’s efforts also earned him the Stars and Stripes jersey for the U23 category.
Results:
1. Evan Boone (Sierra Vista, Ariz.; Performance Cycle Coaching)
2. Dalton Walters (Long Beach, Calif.)
3. Finn Koller (Bethlehem, Pa.; Edge Cycling)
WOMEN’S OMNIUM
The points were close after the morning’s Scratch Race and Tempo Race, with Colleen Gulick (Long Beach, Calif.; Team Skyline - Cadence) going into the evening session in the top spot with 76 total points. The Elimination Race re-positioned the leaderboard, where Chloe Patrick (Carson, Calif.; Cynisca Cycling) and Kimberly Zubris (Alburtis, Pa.; Bike Works p/b Fred Beans) finished first and second, respectively. Following an action-packed Points Race, Zubris won the National Title with 145 points. Patrick earned silver with 140 points and Gulick rounded out the podium with bronze. Patrick’s performance also earned her the Stars and Stripes jersey for the U23 category.
Results:
1. Kimberly Zubris (Alburtis, Pa.; Bike Works p/b Fred Beans)
2. Chloe Patrick (Carson, Calif.; Cynisca Cycling)
3. Colleen Gulick (Long Beach, Calif.; Team Skyline - Cadence)
MEN’S OMNIUM
After the morning’s Scratch Race and Tempo Race, Brendan Rhim (Boulder, Colo.; Project Echelon Racing) and Colby Lange (Edwards, Colo.; Chaney Windows and Doors) went into the evening session leading the pack with 78 total points each. Rhim and Lange continued to battle for the top spot in the Elimination Race, where Rhim won first, and Lange took second. In a determined show of force during the Points Race, Anders Johnson (Huntsville, Utah; Chaney Windows and Doors) raced his way to a podium spot, earning silver with a total of 144 points. Rhim won the National Title with a total of 160 points and Lange rounded out the podium with bronze. Merrick Gallagher (Redmond, Wash.; Jerry Baker Juniors) earned the National Title for the U23 category.
Results:
1. Brendan Rhim (Boulder, Colo.; Project Echelon Racing)
2. Anders Johnson (Huntsville, Utah; Chaney Windows and Doors)
3. Colby Lange (Edwards, Colo.; Chaney Windows and Doors)
Full results for day one, along with the schedule and live timing for day two, can be found here.
Photo By: Craig Huffman
