National
Championship, May 2006
I want to apologize for the delay
in sending this report out. It was such an emotional weekend and
long drive back I needed one day to get my head back in order. Our
cycling team did an absolutely marvelous job not only racing to the
utmost, but representing our school in a very positive way. Friday
kicked off with the Team Time Trial. We wanted very much to defend
our national title in that event and had the benefit of being the
last team to race. The men rode extremely fast to win the event and
bring home a National title in the team time trial for a second year
in a row. Our women also raced over their heads and did an
excellent job to bring home a second place medal in the event. Last
years overall champion Whitman college matched us with a first place
in the women's and as second place in the men.
Saturday brought the long 84 mile
road race. With strong winds and multiple lake crossings we knew it
would be a tough race. On the second lap Scott Jackson got away on
a break with Peter Fairbanks from Cumberland. It looked like their
breakaway might stick in the last lap when they extended it to four
minutes. A chase group formed with five riders including Brent
Bookwalter. With a team mate up the road, Brent did not work and
let them chase carry him up the road. With less than one mile left
to race, the chase group caught the break away and Scott did an
excellent job of leading out Brent for the win. The women's race
also went well, but with a horrible crash in the Div I race all the
Div II riders had to stop on the side of the road for over 40
minutes in the cold wind. Even with the stoppage our women still
scored higher than the Whitman men did and we took an eight point
lead into the final day.
Sunday morning was the criterium.
The men went first and once again Scott and Peter got in a break
away, this time with three
other riders. This time the break stayed away to the end of the
race and Scott Jackson sprinted for the win. This put the team up
fifteen points going into the women's race. We knew the Whitman
girls would most likely win the race but we only had to finish in
third place or better to secure the title. The women's race was
going just as planned and with only one lap to go we had out women
racing in a position for second or third place. In the second turn
on the last lap a wreck occurred that involved Clara Beard and she
was not able to finish the race. Fortunately she was not seriously
injured, but she was unable to continue and we finished in fifth
place overall in the women's race to end the event in second place
overall by nine points.
All in all we brought home four
national titles, the men's Team Time Trial, The men's road race, the
men's Criterium race and also first and second in the men's
individual omnium. We also brought home second place in the women's
team time trial and fifth in the women's criterium. I am very proud
of this team and all they have accomplished this school year. I
look forward to this fall as we move into the Div I rankings.
