Ft. Lewis continues to dominate collegiate MTB events
VeloNews | November 1, 2004 | Ian Dille
Fort Lewis College dominated both the men's and women's downhill events at the Collegiate Nationals at Seven Springs, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, securing yet another team omnium title in the process.
Tough conditionsAlthough the sun finally came through Sunday morning, the previous day's rain left the twisty single-track course in rough shape. A peanut buttery mixture of mud covered the trail's many rocks, roots, and stumps.
The Women's Division II title went to Fort Lewis College freshman Leana Gerrard. While many of her competitors ended up carrying their bikes down large stretches of the course, Gerrard found the effort "challenging, but fun."
"I would catch girls at the bottom of the steep down hills who were just laying there," she said, "I had to run a bit so I wouldn't hit them."
Her teammate, Susan Grandjean, finished fifth to capture the omnium title from Vermont's Karen Walkerman who placed sixth on the day.
"I'm just really tired. I could barely control my bike coming down the hill," said Walkerman, who competed in all four events.
In the Men's Division I race Fort Lewis again posted a one-two finish with Paul Smith taking the win by a large margin. Because of the rainy conditions and the continuation of the Dual Slalom Finals on Saturday, racers weren't able to get as much practice on the course as they would have liked.
"I didn't get that many runs on the course before the race," said Smith as he relaxed at the awards ceremony, "We just came out today, put on the mud tires and went at it."
The battle for omnium titles continued in the Men's Division II Downhill final. Aaron Bradford (Lees-McRae College) smoked the course for the win with his teammate David Flynn, finishing second. But it was another Lees-McRae rider, Brent Bookwalter, who rode to a solid seventh place finish to secure his omnium title.
"I rode pretty much the whole course, but I dabbed a lot," said Bookwalter after the race, "I probably only had both my feet on the pedals for a minute of the whole run."
In the women's Division II race, Linden Kimmerer of Humboldt State held of three Lees-McRae rider Sarah McCallister for the victory. Lees-Mcrae took three of the top five spots in the race.
Colorado schools took a near sweep of the team omnium standings with only Vermont sneaking on to the Podium at third. Colorado finished second with fellow Rocky Mountain Conference teams, Mesa State and Colorado State finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
VeloNews | November 1, 2004 | Ian Dille
Fort Lewis College dominated both the men's and women's downhill events at the Collegiate Nationals at Seven Springs, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, securing yet another team omnium title in the process.
Tough conditionsAlthough the sun finally came through Sunday morning, the previous day's rain left the twisty single-track course in rough shape. A peanut buttery mixture of mud covered the trail's many rocks, roots, and stumps.
The Women's Division II title went to Fort Lewis College freshman Leana Gerrard. While many of her competitors ended up carrying their bikes down large stretches of the course, Gerrard found the effort "challenging, but fun."
"I would catch girls at the bottom of the steep down hills who were just laying there," she said, "I had to run a bit so I wouldn't hit them."
Her teammate, Susan Grandjean, finished fifth to capture the omnium title from Vermont's Karen Walkerman who placed sixth on the day.
"I'm just really tired. I could barely control my bike coming down the hill," said Walkerman, who competed in all four events.
In the Men's Division I race Fort Lewis again posted a one-two finish with Paul Smith taking the win by a large margin. Because of the rainy conditions and the continuation of the Dual Slalom Finals on Saturday, racers weren't able to get as much practice on the course as they would have liked.
"I didn't get that many runs on the course before the race," said Smith as he relaxed at the awards ceremony, "We just came out today, put on the mud tires and went at it."
The battle for omnium titles continued in the Men's Division II Downhill final. Aaron Bradford (Lees-McRae College) smoked the course for the win with his teammate David Flynn, finishing second. But it was another Lees-McRae rider, Brent Bookwalter, who rode to a solid seventh place finish to secure his omnium title.
"I rode pretty much the whole course, but I dabbed a lot," said Bookwalter after the race, "I probably only had both my feet on the pedals for a minute of the whole run."
In the women's Division II race, Linden Kimmerer of Humboldt State held of three Lees-McRae rider Sarah McCallister for the victory. Lees-Mcrae took three of the top five spots in the race.
Colorado schools took a near sweep of the team omnium standings with only Vermont sneaking on to the Podium at third. Colorado finished second with fellow Rocky Mountain Conference teams, Mesa State and Colorado State finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
