Solo Attack Nets Women's Crit Win for Hannos
By Sam Nainoa
BERKELEY, Calif. (May 9, 2003) -- Stephanie Hannos of Midwestern State University won the Collegiate National Division I Championship women’s criterium today at Treasure Island with a powerful solo attack in windy conditions with more than 10 laps remaining in the race.
After contesting a prime, Hannos, a Canadian national, kept the pace high and gapped the field, continually increasing her lead every lap to finish 40 seconds in front of the group. She recovered well from a mid-race crash that prompted her attack.
“After the crash I decided to go even though I thought they would catch me because it was so windy, but they never did. I took a year and a half off and this is my year back. I’m enjoying this and the team, I think it’s great.”
Hannos, 24, works full time as a swim coach and is studying Kinesiology. Her team spent two days driving from Texas to Collegiate Nationals, hosted by the University of California at Berkeley, in a full size bus that stood out in the parking lot filled with a variety of school colors.
One of the race favorites, Kate Maher of Berkeley, continually animated the race as the 80-woman peleton was reduced early on as she and her team immediately strung out the field with a hard tempo in the first three laps. It was also Maher who attempted to bring Hannos back several times.
“I tried to attack a few times but the other teams were watching me. Stephanie is strong and the wind was tough for me.” Maher added that Sunday’s road race is more suited to her strength as a climber.
Julia Oh of Harvard won the field sprint for second ahead of Rebecca McClintock of the University of Florida.
Marissa Kellogg of Yale University won the Division II women’s criterium in a close sprint between a small group ahead of the main pack as the riders were spread out across the course because of constant attacks. Lauren Gaffney of Vanderbilt University took second and was followed by Amy Wallace of Dartmouth College.
BERKELEY, Calif. (May 9, 2003) -- Stephanie Hannos of Midwestern State University won the Collegiate National Division I Championship women’s criterium today at Treasure Island with a powerful solo attack in windy conditions with more than 10 laps remaining in the race.
After contesting a prime, Hannos, a Canadian national, kept the pace high and gapped the field, continually increasing her lead every lap to finish 40 seconds in front of the group. She recovered well from a mid-race crash that prompted her attack.
“After the crash I decided to go even though I thought they would catch me because it was so windy, but they never did. I took a year and a half off and this is my year back. I’m enjoying this and the team, I think it’s great.”
Hannos, 24, works full time as a swim coach and is studying Kinesiology. Her team spent two days driving from Texas to Collegiate Nationals, hosted by the University of California at Berkeley, in a full size bus that stood out in the parking lot filled with a variety of school colors.
One of the race favorites, Kate Maher of Berkeley, continually animated the race as the 80-woman peleton was reduced early on as she and her team immediately strung out the field with a hard tempo in the first three laps. It was also Maher who attempted to bring Hannos back several times.
“I tried to attack a few times but the other teams were watching me. Stephanie is strong and the wind was tough for me.” Maher added that Sunday’s road race is more suited to her strength as a climber.
Julia Oh of Harvard won the field sprint for second ahead of Rebecca McClintock of the University of Florida.
Marissa Kellogg of Yale University won the Division II women’s criterium in a close sprint between a small group ahead of the main pack as the riders were spread out across the course because of constant attacks. Lauren Gaffney of Vanderbilt University took second and was followed by Amy Wallace of Dartmouth College.
This Article Published May 9, 2003 For more information contact:
