TREXLERTOWN, PENN. JULY 8, 2018— Day three of the 2018 USA Cycling Junior Track Nationals was centered around sprints, individual pursuit, and Madisons. Six national championship titles were awarded among the three events held at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center.
The day started and ended with the sprint tournaments for men and women, the classic test of speed on the velodrome. In the women’s 15-18 sprints, winner Sophia Shuhay (New Tripoli, Penn./Star Track Racing) started the day off qualifying first, with the fast time of 11.993. “I’ve been riding times I’ve never rode before. It’s really shocking because I’ve never rode these times before, and it’s a great feeling because I know what I’m doing is right. And I can only get better from here, which is a good feeling” said Shuhay about posting the only sub-12 second time for women today. Kayla Hankins (Scottsdale, Ariz./Velo Track Cycling) came in second, and yesterday’s keirin and scratch race winner Ivy Koester (Los Angeles, Calif./Velo Club LaGrange) rounded out the top 3.
Evan Boone (Sierra Vista, Ariz./M and M RC) took the men’s 15-18 sprint title, overcoming his third fastest qualifying time to clinch the win. Ian Buss (Breinigsville, Penn./Star Track Racing) took home second, and JeanLuc CotantGalitello (Coconut Creek, Fla./Performance Cycle Coaching) was on the third step of the podium
Yesterday’s points race and 15-16 omnium winner Megan Jastrab(Apple Valley, Calif./iCademy) continued her winning streak today, capturing the women’s 15-18 individual pursuit title in a time of 2:09.414 over two-kilometers. Zoe Ta-Perez(Orange, Calif./Sho-Air TWENTY20 Development) set the silver standard with a time of 2:12.322. Bridget Tooley (Frisco, Texas/Latini’s Bicycle Repair) took home bronze in a time of 2:12.377
On the men’s side, home-track riderNathan Roberts(Whitehall, Penn./Young Medalists) claimed the Stars-and-Stripes for the men’s 15-18 individual pursuit in a time of 3:37.869, which was competed over three kilometers. Gregorino Cordasco(Basking Ridge, N.J./Team Beyer Auto) came in second with a time of 3:41.476. Jacob Waters(Ragley, Colo./Star Track Racing) rounded out the podium with a time of 3:41.906.
Today’s women’s 15-18 Madison showed promise for the future in the newest Olympic discipline event, with Jastrab and Ta-Perez dominating the event since the start, finishing with 93 points and taking the title. McKenzie Steiner (Del Mar, Calif./ Adams Avenue Bicycles) and IP bronze medalist Tooley came in second with 29 points. In third, Elizabeth Stevenson(Rochester, Mich./Team O2) and partner Vanessa Romano (Allentown, Penn./Young Medalists) rounded out the podium.
First and second place from yesterday’s men’s 15-16 omnium, Alexander Wulfgang Lochmiller (San Diego/ Team Velosport Junior & U23 Development - Rock n Road Cyclery) and Ian Oelrich (San Diego/ Team Velosport Junior & U23 Development - Rock n Road Cyclery), partnered up and pursued gold, and achieved, in the men’s 15-18 Madison. On the second step of the podium was Ethan Colson (Oak Harbor, Wash.) and partner Daniel Park (Fullerton, Calif./Team Velosport Junior & U23 Development - Rock n Road Cyclery) set the silver tonight.
Tuesday sees the start of the Masters National Championships and the team timed events for our juniors. You can follow the action on USA Cycling’s @usacyclinglive Twitter account as well as the @usacycling Instagram account, and follow along with others posts by using the hashtag #TrackNats .
