Cristin Walker

  
  


Date of Birth: May 3, 1988
Height: 5'2"/1.57m
Weight: 138/63kg./9.12st.
Place of Birth: Houston, Texas
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Residence: Cypress, California
Teams:
Momentum Coaching Group p/b Atomic, Northwest Cycling, Memorial Herman Junior Race Team
Education: High school graduate and about 2 years of college
Twitter: @Cristin_Melynn

National Championship Experience

2nd place — 2011 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships, Carson, California, Team Sprint, Sprint
2nd place — 2010 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships, Carson, California, Team Sprint, Sprint
1st place — 2009 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships, Carson, California, Sprint (U23), 500m (U23), Sprint (Elite), 500m (Elite), Keirin
2nd place — 2009 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships, Carson, California, Team Sprint
1st place — 2008 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships, Carson, California, Sprint (U23), Keirin (U23), Time Trial (U23)
3rd place — 2008 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships, Carson, California, Keirin (Elite), Team Sprint (Elite)
1st place — 2007 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships, Carson, California, Sprint (U23)
2nd place — 2006 USA Cycling Juniors Track National Championships, Trexlertown, Pennsylvania, Keirin, Scratch Race, Match Sprint, Team Sprint
1st place — 2005 USA Cycling Juniors Track National Championships, Trexlertown, Pennsylvania, Sprint

Career Highlights

2nd place — 2011 Pan American Championships, Medellin, Colombia, Keirin
3rd place — 2011 Pan American Championships, Medellin, Colombia, 500m Time Trial
4th place — 2011 Pan American Championships, Medellin, Colombia, Team Sprint
25th place — 2011 UCI Track World Cup, Astana, Kazakhstan, Women's Keirin
15th place — 2011 UCI Track World Cup, Astana, Kazakhstan, Women's 500m Time Trial
30th place — 2011 UCI Track World Cup, Beijing, China, Women's Sprint

Points of Interest

  • Walker needs to have tea and yogurt in the morning or it throws her entire day off.
  • Walker, a self-professed "band nerd" for most of her life, played the trumpet in the marching band.

Personal

Growing up in Houston, it would have been easy for Cristin Walker to be a football fan. In Texas, high school football draws at least as many fans as professional football attracts. That was not the case for the Walker family. Walker played soccer and was a long distance runner until a stress fracture before high school put both sports on hold. Additionally, Friday nights in the Walker family were spent at the Alkek Velodrome for Friday Night Racing where both of her parents were competitive track cyclists.

Walker, who placed fifth in a national championship race at the age of 12, progressed to the level where she could compete in Juniors Pan American Games. At age 18, Walker competed in the Juniors World Championships. At that point, she was faced with either racing in college or pursuing elite racing. She elected to pursue an elite racing career and enrolled in a community college.

Her investment paid dividends almost immediately. In 2007, Walker earned the under-23 crown in Sprint at the 2007 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships. She added three more U23 crowns and a pair of elite bronze medals the following year.

Domestically, Walker broke through in 2009 when she won five national titles, including three elite golds. Internationally, 2011 was certainly pivotal as she earned a pair of medals at the Pan American Championships in Medellin, Colombia, finishing second in the Keirin and third in the 500m Time Trial.

Walker, who now lives and trains in California, enjoys spending time with her cycling family in her down time. As they have similar schedules and training regimens, a simple gathering to watch a movie is a valuable part to the recovery process of training.

She credits her parents and coaches for her cycling success, "Not only did they get me into track cycling, but they've always been so supportive of my racing, even when it wasn't going so well. Also my track family back in Houston and Dallas. Without a coach, without training partners and without the support I received from everyone, I wouldn't be where I am today. I am so thankful for everyone whole helped me get out here."


This Article Updated January 27, 2012 @ 03:34 PM For more information contact: