Lees-McRae Cycling Team continues its winning ways.

 

    Brent Bookwalter and Clara Beard both came home with another National Championship jersey from this years US National cyclo cross championships. 

    The Lees-McRae cycling team traveled to Rhode Island to compete in the US National cyclo cross championships for the first time. 

The team consisted of:

• Seniors: Luke Winger, Danny Marquardt, Clara Beard;

• Juniors: Brent Bookwalter, Monique Hein, Olivia Maurey;

• Sophomores Katie Getchell, Ed Burress, Carson Worts and Gonzalo Escobar. 

This was the first time the team competed in the cyclo cross national championships and finished in second place behind Div I team Fort Lewis.  The team finished ahead of the strong teams from University of New Hampshire, MIT and Dartmouth.  Brent rode away with the collegiate men's title with a 45 second victory over Matt Shriver of Fort Lewis.  Clara finished fourth in collegiate women but won the U 23 women's national title by only 7 seconds.  The weather was extremely cold with snow covering the course.  With temperatures hovering around freezing, it was definitely cyclo cross weather. 

    The year of 2005 has been a very successful year for the young program.  In only it's fourth year of competition they brought home to the college:

• Two National team titles, seven individual national titles,

• 25 podium places,

• 3 SECCC conference titles

• Two second place finishes in team National competitions. 

The spring semester will see the team competing for yet another National title in the Collegiate road season.  As their coach, I must say I am so very proud of each and every rider in the program and am happy to be a part of their success.

Doug Owen
Head Coach
Lees-McRae Cycling Team