With two teams tied and another only two points back, one final race decided a national champion.
Brevard College and Fort Lewis College entered Thursday’s 4x4 team relay race at the 2017 USA Cycling Collegiate Cyclo-Cross National Championships tied with 158 points and Marian University only two points back.
Teams of two men and two women for each college competed in the relay, with each rider completing one lap on the muddy and grueling course in Hartford, Connecticut.
It was Brevard College that went on to win the relay in 27 minutes, 31 seconds to blow away the competition en route to a national championship in cyclocross.
Marian University took second in 28:32, and the Fort Lewis team of Jon Anderson, Ellen Campbell, Cody Cupp and Kelsay Lundberg placed third in 29:12.
Marian jumped Fort Lewis in the team omnium standings to earn the silver and national runner-up honors, while Fort Lewis took bronze in the final team standings.
Lindenwood University finished fourth in 29:37, and Colorado Mesa rounded out the five-team podium in 31:14. Ten schools competed in the relay.
While collegiate racing is over, the cyclocross nationals will roll on through Sunday, when the professional men’s and women’s races will be contested.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
