BIG BEAR LAKE, C.A. - Eight nationals titles were awarded on the second day of the 2019 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships at Snow Summit in Big Bear Lake, C.A. The morning started off with Downhill Seeding then into Short Track and Dual Slalom finals.
Short Track
Short Track always brings tight and exciting racing amongst the teams. Cross-Country Varsity National Champion and last years winner, Cole Paton (Durango, C.O.; Fort Lewis College) went two-for-two and defended his Short Track national title. Torbjorn Roed (Grand Junction, C.O.; Colorado Mesa University) came in second again only 6 seconds back. Paton's teammate Henry Nadell (Durango, C.O.; Fort Lewis College) finished right on Roed's tail.
In the Club race, we saw the same men on the podium as Friday, but in a slightly different order. Alexander Sugarman (Boulder, C.O.; University of Colorado Boulder) takes the National Championship jersey for the second year in a row. It came down to a photo finish between Sandy Floren (Berkeley, C.A.; UC Santa Cruz) and Zach Calton (Salt Lake City, U.T.; University of Utah) who finished second and third, respectively.
The sprint finish in the Women's Varsity race came down to Katie Clouse (Grand Junction, C.O.; Colorado Mesa University) and Savilia Blunk (Durango, C.O.; Fort Lewis College) with Clouse taking the jersey from Blunk, last year's winner. Mackenzie Myatt (Atlanta, G.A.; SCAD Atlanta) finishes just seconds behind.
Cross-Country Club National Champion, Harper Powell (Boulder, C.O.; University of Colorado Boulder), walks away with another jersey for the weekend. There were some new teams and faces on the podium with Hadley Peay (Alpine, U.T.; Utah Independent) in second and Helena Gilbert-Snyder (El Cerrito, C.A.; Northeastern University) in third.
Dual Slalom
The fans were out in full force watching some head-to-head Dual Slalom racing
Saturday night. Friday's qualifying rounds created the bracket of 64 riders for the Men's Varsity race. Collin Hudson (Grand Junction, C.O.; Colorado Mesa University) won over the first-place qualifier, Dustin Hammond (Columbia, K.Y.; Lindsey Wilson College). Hudson's teammate Andras Simon (Grand Junction, C.O.; Colorado Mesa University) won the consolation round placing third.
John Vander Dussen (Boulder, C.O.; University of Colorado Boulder) won the jersey in the Men's Club race. CSU teammates Christian Atkins (Fort Collins, C.O.; Colorado State University) and Ross Soriano (Fort Collins, C.O.; Colorado State University) finished second and third, respectively.
In the bracket of 32 racers, Veronica Laughton (Banner Elk, N.C.; Lees McCrae College) takes her third Dual Slalom National title in the Varsity Women's race. Sarah Smith (Grand Junction, C.O.; Colorado Mesa University) comes in second with Elida Beeman (Columbia, K.Y.; Lindsey Wilson College) rounding out the podium.
2017 Dual Slalom National Champion, Clare Hamilton (Boulder, C.O.; University of Colorado Boulder), won her jersey back this year. Lia Westermann (Salt Lake City, U.T.; University of Utah) comes in second with Avra Saslow (Boulder, C.O.; University of Colorado Boulder) taking third spot.
Downhill Seeding
Downhill racers got some time on the course with their seeding runs. These results place the riders in order for their final runs going down Sunday morning.
Men's Varsity
1. Andras Simon (Grand Junction, C.O.; Colorado Mesa University)
2. Trevor McCutcheon (Grand Junction, C.O.; Colorado Mesa University)
3. Turner Conway (Grand Junction, C.O.; Colorado Mesa University)
Men's Club
1. Erik Szayna (Berkeley, C.A.; UC Santa Cruz)
2. Dylan Crane (Boulder, C.O.; University of Colorado Boulder)
3. John Vander Dussen (Boulder, C.O.; University of Colorado Boulder)
Women's Varsity
1. Veronica Laughton (Banner Elk, N.C.; Lees McCrae College)
2. Sarah Smith (Grand Junction, C.O.; Colorado Mesa University)
3. Madeline Bemis (Erwin, T.N.; Milligan College)
Women's Club
1. Clare Hamilton (Boulder, C.O.; University of Colorado Boulder)
2. Lia Westermann (Salt Lake City, U.T.; University of Utah)
3. Avra Saslow (Boulder, C.O.; University of Colorado Boulder)
Everything is on the line for team omniums with arguably the most popular event of the weekend, the team relay.
Anything can happen on this last day of racing. Colorado Mesa is currently in the lead with 450 points, then Fort Lewis with 432 points. Lees McCrae is in third with 368 points.
The University of Colorado Boulder is sweeping the club rankings with a perfect score of 480 points. Colorado School of Mines has 360 points and Colorado State University just behind with only a 5 point difference.
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