INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Two Team Pursuit titles were awarded on the first day of the 2021 USA Cycling Collegiate Track National Championships at the Major Taylor Velodrome in Indianapolis, In. Marian University dominated on their home track and took the win in the Women's Team Pursuit after a second-place finish in 2019. Colorado Mesa University left it all on the track to win the Men's Team Pursuit.
The Marian University Women’s Team Pursuit squad was comprised of Alijah Beatty (Washington, Iowa), Arielle Coy (Miami, Fla.), Birgit Morris (Grand Junction, Colo.), and Elizabeth Stevenson (Rochester Hills, Mich.). The team would stop the clock at 5:03.201.
"The team has worked really well together and we've been training a lot. We just really wanted this win, so we went out there and we did what we do in practice... and it worked! We are all just really happy, especially because we got to do it on our home track", said Beatty, Coy, Morris, and Stevenson.
On the Men’s side in the Team Pursuit, Colorado Mesa University would reign over their competitors with a team comprised of Lance Abshire (Baton Rouge, La.), Ian Anderson (San Antonio, Texas), Nathan Roberts (Whitehall, Pa.), and Torbjorn Roed (Norway). The team would stop the clock at 4:28.747.
In addition to Qualifying, the Men’s and Women’s Sprint (up to the semi-finals) also took place during the morning session. Olivia Ray (New Zealand; Savanah College of Art & Design – Atlanta), would set a new track record and take the fastest time of the day. It would be Evan Boone (Grand Junction, Colo; Colorado Mesa University), that would clock the fastest time in Qualifying for the Men.
Racing continues tomorrow morning with the Men's Pursuit Final and the Women's 500m Time-Trial.
Looking for more information about Collegiate Track Nationals? Check out the links below to learn more!
