The opening days of the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships have once again showed the strength of the Durango biking community.
Caleb Thompson of Durango highlighted the first three days of action at the muddy course in Lakewood, Washington. Thompson, racing for the CRC Janitorial Scott/2nd Ave Sports team based in Durango, won the masters men age 35-39 race. He completed five laps in 46 minutes, 18 seconds to edge Andrew Coe of Portland by nine seconds.
The win came a week after Thompson crashed at regionals and had to get X-rays to make sure he didn’t have a broken collar bone. He fought through the pain and had a steady race to eventually climb into first place.
“Words can’t express how I feel,” Thompson said in a post to Facebook. “After 22 years of competitive cycling, I finally pulled on a national champion jersey today. Dedication and hard work do eventually pay off. I’ve been injured most of the season and doubted myself but I pushed through the pain today in epic muddy conditions. Thanks to everyone around me that has supported me over the years and help bring out the best in me. Especially my wife Alissa Thompson who encourages and supports me everyday to pursue my passion.”
In the masters men 30-34 race, Durango’s Dylan Stucki placed eighth while riding a singlespeed setup. He finished in 46:34, only 15 seconds behind the winning time of Bradford Perley. Durango’s Ian Burnett also competed in the race and finished 25th in 54:46.
Thursday’s masters men’s 40-44 race saw Durango’s Chad Cheeney take 24th in 53:30. Jake Wells won the race in 46:51.
Field Blevins placed 37th in the men’s masters 60-64 division, as he crossed the line in 48:14. Harry Hamilton won in 40:46.
Collegiate cyclocross nationals got rolling Thursday with the men’s varsity race for FLC.
Caleb Swartz of Marian University won the five-lap race in 43:29. Tyler Orschel of Brevard College was 22 seconds behind to take second, while Scott Funston of Colorado Mesa was third in 44:06.
FLC was led by Guy Leshem. The freshman from Israel placed sixth in 44:23. He was followed in seventh by teammate Henry Nadell, who was 11 seconds behind Leshem.
Also for the Skyhawks was Durango’s own Keiran Eagen in 10th place, as he finished in 45:13. Sam Brown and Cormac McGeough placed 12th and 13th for FLC, respectively. They both finished in 45:45. Harrison Buckley was 14th for FLC in 46:06 to come in front of a contingent of Colorado Mesa riders.
The FLC women will race Friday. The strong team is led by Ellen Campbell, Tristen Musselman, Sophie Russenberger, Anna Schehrer and Katie Scott. Collegiate racing will conclude Friday with the four-by-four team relay.
Many of the same FLC riders will also compete in the elite professional races or under-23 races this weekend.
Also joining the fun is defending singlespeed national champion Sarah Sturm, as she will look to defend her title as well as race in the elite women’s race.
Durango’s Jon Anderson, Cody Cupp and Stephan Davoust will compete in the men’s elite race.
Getting in the men’s singlespeed mix will be Burnett, Stucki and Sam Vickery.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
