Three Fort Lewis College women finished in the top 10 Thursday to give the Skyhawks’ cycling team a strong start at USA Cycling’s Collegiate Cyclocross National Championships at Joe Creason Park in Louisville, Kentucky.
Lindenwood University’s Samantha Runnels showed her prowess on the muddy course and won Thursday’s varsity women’s race in 38 minutes, 6 seconds, as she turned in the fastest lap of the week for any rider at the national championships. Runnels finished 12 seconds ahead of Marian University’s Emma Swartz, while Brevard College’s Hannah Arensman was third in 39:15.
Fort Lewis’ top finisher was Sophie Russenberger, a cyclocross specialist from Bend, Oregon. She finished fourth in 39:49. Russenberger started on the fourth row and had to work her way past plenty of riders on the first lap before she had the fifth- and sixth-place riders in her sights.
“I moved up pretty fast at the beginning of the course, and I was pretty happy with my start,” she said. “Once I got up to sixth, I was worried I might blow myself up for going so fast at the start. I tried to be steady and caught fifth place and then got by myself in fourth.”
Once Russenberger was alone, she stayed in fourth for the final four laps.
“It’s definitely easier to push yourself when you’re with someone,” she said. “I was thinking that if I had a better start position, I could have been able to stay with the leaders, I just wasn’t strong enough to bridge up to them. Knowing girls were coming from behind was still motivating, so you’re still trying to go as hard as you can, but it’s a different feeling than if you’re trying to battle with someone.”
Riders had to deal with a muddy course thanks to rain a day earlier, and that meant a lot of running on the backside of each lap. But temperatures warmed up to around 55 degrees by the afternoon, and that made for muggy conditions.
Durango’s own Katja Freeburn and Ellen Campbell finished eighth and ninth, respectively. Freeburn finished in 41:28, while Campbell crossed the line in 41:53.
“The course dried out a bit more compared to when we pre-rode it (Wednesday),” Freeburn said. “It was a little muddy in sections, but it was good enough to ride. Sometimes it was faster to run sections, but if I could ride it, I tried to muscle through it. It’s an awesome course, super technical and really shows who is strong at technical courses and being awkward on your bike.”
Marian College took an early points lead with three riders in the top seven. Marian has 94 points, Fort Lewis is second with 83 points, and Lindenwood is third with 73 points.
“We have a great group of people on the trip this year,” Freeburn said. “It’s always a lot of fun representing Fort Lewis at a national event.”
Also for FLC, Kelsay Lundberg of Salida finished 12th in 43:57, Tristen Musselman of Flagstaff, Arizona, was 18th in 45:55, and Anna Schehrer, also of Salida, was 22nd, as she finished down one lap. A total of 41 riders finished the race.
“My race was super fun, but I didn’t feel my best,” Campbell said of her ninth-place ride. “The whole girls team did really well; I’m extremely proud of everyone.”
The Fort Lewis men will race Friday, headlined by defending collegiate national champion Henry Nadell, recently crowned conference champion Jon Anderson both backed up by Nash Dory, Thomas Gauthier and James Hilyer.
After Friday’s men’s race, the Skyhawks will see if they can claim a 25th national title in the cycling program’s history after the team relay event Saturday. Many FLC riders also will compete in the USA Cycling under-23 national championship race Sunday. Russenberger said she gained confidence and will aim for a top-five finish.
Collegiate racers aren’t the only athletes getting in on the racing this week in Kentucky, as the event also serves as the national championships for professionals and amateurs.
Durango’s Martha Iverson was first in the women masters age 70-74 division as the only athlete in her age group. She finished in 33:40.
Richard Bagienski of Durango was 10th in the men’s masters age 70-74 division in 48:01.
Field Blevins, father of reigning under-23 national champion Christoper Blevins, was 36th in the men master’s age 60-64 category in 50:53. Christopher Blevins will not defend his title Sunday, as he will keep his focus on mountain biking for the next two years.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
