Junior Track Nationals Are On in Houston

HOUSTON (July 10, 2003) – The first day of the 2003 Junior National Track Championships brought many impressive performances by the nation’s best junior cyclists at the Alkek Velodrome in Houston, Texas.

In men’s 17-18 action, Team T2W, consisting of Junior World Championship silver medalist Andy Lakatosh (Trexlertown, Pa.), Michael Blatchford (Cypress, Calif.), and Rocco Mazzei (Colorado Springs, Colo.) won the gold medal in the team sprint event. East Coast Velo’s Ben Barczewski (Schnecksville, Pa.), Ryan Nelman (Taylor Lake Village, Texas), and Aaron Kacala (Racine, Wis.) placed second with Corben/Huntair’s Adam Southerland (Kent, Wash.), David Fleischhauer (Olympia, Wash.), and Daniel Holloway (Pleasant Hill, Calif.) taking third.

The team pursuit was also contested Wednesday. Rad Racing’s group of Zak Grabowski (Lafayette, Colo.), Adam Southerland, David Fleischhauer, and Ryan Luttrell (Colorado Springs, Colo.) secured the top spot. PA Express team riders Tucker Brown (Fleetwood, Pa.), Michael Chauner (West Chester, Pa.), Elliot Gaunt (Woolrich, Pa.), and Chris Ruhl (Quakertown, Pa.) took second-place. The SE Regional Team consisting of Anthony Marinelli (Kennesaw, Ga.), Michael Wolf (Decatur, Ga.), Zach Taylor (Marietta, Ga.), and David Guttenplan (Tallahassee, Fla.) secured the bronze medal.

The women’s 17-18 15 km points race saw Junior Road National silver medalist Larssyn Staley (Beaverton, Ore.) clinch the victory with 20 points in 45 laps. Second-place went to Cassandra Osorio-McKenna (Florence, S.C.) with Erica Allar (Fogelsville, Pa.) in third.

The 15-16 junior women raced the 5 km scratch race on Wednesday night. Cindy Lakatosh (Trexlertown, Pa.) took the first event of the women’s ominium with a victory in the scratch race. Natalie Klemko (Bristol, Wis.) followed in second and Kimberly Geist (Emmaus, Pa.) was third. The men’s and women’s 15-16 omnium consists of four events: the 5 km scratch race, 500m time trial, 2 km scratch, and 15 km points race.

In the men’s 15-16 5 km scratch race Mike Schnabel (Emmaus, Pa.) took the gold with Daniel Holloway (Pleasant Hill, Calif.) securing second and Richard Schenck (Milford, N.J.) taking third.

The women’s 500 m time trial saw Colleen Hayduk (Kutztown, Pa.) secure the gold medal. Lauren Shirock (Emmaus, Pa.) and Samantha Schneider (West Allis, Wis.) finished second and third respectively.

In the men’s 500 m time trial Shane Kline posted the fastest time of 36.957 to clinch the National title. David Espinoza (Boca Raton, Fla.) was second in 38.831 and Ricky Cruz (San Ysidro, Calif.) secured third in 39.227.

The 10-12 2 km scratch race, the first event in the 10-12 omnium saw semi-finals and finals run with Allyson Brunner (Kenosha, Wis.) taking the victory for the women. Mary Costelloe (Emmaus, Pa.) finished second with Mandy Marquardt (Plantation, Fla.) snagging the bronze medal.

In the men’s 10-12 contest, National Road Champion in the road race and criterium, Njisane Phillip, took the victory over runner-up Benny Swedberg (Kent, Wash.). Third-place went to Ethan Bing (Katy, Texas).

Track action continues Thursday with the women’s 15-16 500 m time trial, men’s 17-18 3 km pursuit finals, men’s 10-12 1 km scratch finals, men’s and women’s 13-14 10 km points race final, women’s 15-16 2 km scratch semi’s, men’s 15-16 500 m time trial, and women’s 2 km pursuit finals.

More track race action is scheduled through Saturday night.