McDonough appointed national track programs director

By VeloNews Interactive

USA Cycling has named Pat McDonough as national track programs director effective April 1, 2004.

McDonough, a team pursuit silver medalist in the 1984 Olympic Games, is currently the director of the Lehigh Valley Velodrome in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania, a position he’s held since 1989.

USA Cycling characterizes McDonough’s appointment as “part of an investment USA Cycling is making to forward track cycling in the United States.”

In his new position, McDonough’s efforts will be focused on managing USA Cycling’s track programs and working to create a new national track cycling series. “I am extremely excited and honored to have been chosen for this new position and plan to use my experience from Trexlertown to assist all velodromes in the United States,” said McDonough. “I look forward to creating a plan that will advance the sport of track cycling, attract new participants and sponsors, increase awareness and ultimately improve our international standing in the sport.” Track cycling in the United States is about to enter era with the completion of the ADT Event Center, a new indoor track cycling facility that is part of the Home Depot Center, a multi-facility sports complex on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson, California.

As the ADT Event Center prepares to host three major international track cycling events in the next thirteen months, it will serve as the nucleus around which to build a viable national program.

The ADT Event Center opens this summer as it plays host to the UCI Junior Track World Championships July 28-Aug. 1. Other international competitions include a round of the UCI Track World Cup this December and the 2005 UCI Elite World Championships next March. Primarily, McDonough will spend a considerable amount of his time in Southern California in conjunction with the inaugural season of operation of the ADT Event Center. “The addition of the ADT Event Center indoor track to our existing network of excellent outdoor venues provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to begin revitalizing American track cycling,” said USA Cycling director of athletics Steve Johnson. “Pat was our first choice to manage the process and I could not be more pleased that he has agreed to join our team of committed, professional staff at USA Cycling,” It was enthusiasm echoed by USA Cycling CEO, Gerard Bisceglia.

“Pat brings to USA Cycling a unique blend of his organizational skills from his years as a director of a major track cycling program and his athletic credentials,” Bisceglia effused. “We are exceptionally fortunate to have an individual of Pat’s caliber contribute to our organization and the future of our sport.”