Team USA claims three of six BMX medals at Pan Am Games

  
  


Fields takes gold and Long silver at the Pan Am Games.
Fields takes gold and Long silver at the Pan Am Games.
Of the six available BMX medals won Friday at the Pan American Games, Team USA BMXers scored three. Connor Fields (Henderson, Nev.) led the men's team with a smooth final ride, finishing in 34.245, for first place at CODE San Nicholas. Fields was followed by teammate Nic Long (Lakeside, Calif.) who crossed the line in 34.907 for the silver medal.
 
"When I crashed early on in the competition, I really had to dig deep to finish strong in the final," said Fields who was cheered across the line after crashing in the second qualifying run due to a busted bike chain. "It helped wake me up."
 
Fields, ranked No. 1 in the overall UCI rankings, qualified to the final after winning the first and third qualifying run as well as his heat in the semifinal.
 
"This win felt great, especially because the doctor who fixed my knee this March, Steve Coupens, is here," said Fields. "He's become a huge part of my life, and it was awesome to win with him watching."
 
Silver medalist Long, ranked No. 2 in the overall UCI rankings, arrived to the Pan American Games with gold medals from both the 2008 UCI event in Salt Lake City, Utah and 2010 UCI SX in Chula Vista, Calif.
 
Fields, Martin and Long pose with USA Cycling BMX Program Director Mike King and coach James Herrera..
Fields, Martin and Long pose with USA Cycling BMX Program Director Mike King and coach James Herrera..
"The whole Pan American Games experience has been cool, and I can't believe it's already over," said Long. "I wish I had more time to hang with the other teams in the village."
 
Andres Jiminez (Colombia) took the bronze medal in the men's race.
 
Rounding out Team USA's podium placements is Arielle Martin (Spanaway, Wash.) who crossed the line in 42.659 for silver in the women's race. The veteran-rider ranked No. 3 in the overall UCI ranking, finished behind world champion Mariana Pajon (Colombia) and Maria Diaz (Argentina) finished third.
 
Amanda Carr (Punta Gorda, Fla.) crashed in the women's final and finished the race in eighth place.
 


This Article Published October 21, 2011 For more information contact: