Texas hosts junior/espoir nats
Usually, it’s Colorado that finds itself invaded by Texans come summertime. But at the 2003 USCF Junior/Espoir Road National Championships, held over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, it was Colorado on the attack in the Lone Star State – along with young racers from Oregon to Pennsylvania and all points in between. Junior and espoir road races Zak Grabowski (Lafayette, Colorado) claimed the first stars-and-stripes jersey of the weekend by winning the relatively flat 90-mile 17-18 road race on Thursday in Normangee. Despite the sweltering Texas temperatures, Grabowski shot away in the
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
By VeloNews Interactive
Usually, it’s Colorado that finds itself invaded by Texans come summertime. But at the 2003 USCF Junior/Espoir Road National Championships, held over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, it was Colorado on the attack in the Lone Star State – along with young racers from Oregon to Pennsylvania and all points in between.
Junior and espoir road races
Zak Grabowski (Lafayette, Colorado) claimed the first stars-and-stripes jersey of the weekend by winning the relatively flat 90-mile 17-18 road race on Thursday in Normangee. Despite the sweltering Texas temperatures, Grabowski shot away in the final kilometer to win in 3:56.26, ahead of Keith Norris (Pembroke Pines, Florida) and Chad Beyer (Peoria, Arizona).
In the 199km espoir race, it was Jonathan Erdelyi (Brick, New Jersey) crossing first in 5:01.09. Erdelyi outkicked Darby Thomas (Montpelier, Vermont), who took the runner-up slot just three seconds behind. Michael Voigt (Alexandria, Virginia) was third.
Races against the clock
On Friday, the racing shifted to College Station for the time-trial championship, which began in muggy conditions, segued into rain and then cleared for the final riders on the flat, out and back course.
Zach Taylor (Marietta, Georgia) won the 23.6km 17-18 TT in 31:21.190, capturing his first national-championship jersey as a first-year junior. Grabowski turned a 31:41.640 for second, followed by Steven Cozza (Petaluma, California), in at 31:48.080.
In the 23.6km 17-18 women’s race, it was Karen Admundson (Woodinville, Washington) winning in 36:23.070, ahead of Larssyn Staley (Beaverton, Oregon), who crossed in 36.44.830, and Rebecca Much (Chicago, Illinois), who took third in 38:15.610.
In the 34.4km espoirs race, Michael Creed (Colorado Springs, Colorado) defended his national TT title by winning in 45:12.680, nearly 90 seconds faster than runner-up Timmy Duggan (Boulder, Colorado), who finished in 46:38.050. Will Frischkorn (Boulder, Colorado) was third in 47:25.530.
Other titlists included:
Women 10-12
1. Mandy Marguardt (Plantation, Florida), 11.8km in 20:45.195
2. Jacqueline Kurth (Palm City, Florida), 20:48.220
3. Colleen Gulick (Spring City, Pennsylvania), 21:43.630.
Women 13-14
1. Danielle Haulman (Denver, Colorado), 11.8km in 18:10.13
2. Samantha Schneider (West Allis, Wisconsin), 19:30.060
3. Lauren Shirock (Emmaus, Pennsylvania), 19:33.770.
Women 15-16
1. Kimberly Geist (Emmaus, Pennsylvania), 23.6km in 37:26.730
2. Shannon Koch (Flower Mound, Texas), 37.45.30
3. Jacquelyn Crowell (Maitland, Florida), 38:48.30
Men 10-12
1. Jeremy Shirock (Emmaus, Pennsylvania), 11.8km in 20:41.050
2. Mitchell Witmer (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), 21:01.180
3. Njisane Phillip (Miami, Florida), 21:16.440
Men 13-14
1. Shane Kline (Bally, Pennsylvania), 11.8km in 16:52.840
2. Ricky Cruz (San Ysidro, California), 17:17.920
3. Bryson Sewell (Los Alamos, New Mexico), 17:30.820.
Men 15-16
1. Chris Stockburger (Fort Collins, Colorado), 23.6km in 31:45.890
2. 2. Nick Frey (Des Moines, Iowa), 31:52.210
3. Adam Switters (Folsom, California), 33:15.620
Junior road races
The younger athletes tackled their road races on Saturday in rural Washington County, in the rolling hills of southeastern Texas.
Chris Stockburger (Fort Collins, Colorado) outsprinted the bunch in the 58km men’s 15-16 race, finishing in 1:28.30. Daniel Holloway (Pleasant Hill, California) claimed second ahead of Chris Ruhl.
Shannon Koch (Flower Mound, Texas) won the 39km women’s 15-16 race in 1:23:16. Natalie Klemko (Bristol, Wisconsin) finished second with Kimberly Geist (Emmaus, Pennsylvania) taking third.
Keely Shannon (Des Moines, Iowa) won the 13-14 women’s race by outsprinting Colleen Hayduk (Kutztown, Pennsylvania) in 33:46. Samantha Schneider (West Allis, Wisconsin) crossed third.
Ricky Cruz (San Ysidro, California) won the men’s 13-14 race ahead of Alexander Schneider (Tulsa, Oklahoma) and Alejandro Garcia (Whittier, California).
Njisane Phillip (Miami, Florida) pulled away in the final 200 meters to win the 19km men’s 10-12 race in 36:36. Mitchell Witmer (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) and Connor Simmons (Superior, Colorado) was third.
The junior women’s 10-12 category saw Jacqueline Kurth (Palm City, Florida) outkick Mandy Marquardt (Plantation, Florida) in 36:08.4. Colleen Gulick (Spring City, Florida) crossed third.
Racing concludes Sunday with the criteriums on the Texas A&M campus in College Station.