Lea continues Omnium domination

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The second of five days of national championship track racing saw over 120 of the nation's best track cyclists contest the individual pursuit, scratch race, men's team sprint, time trial and omnium contests.

Bobby Lea, who held a three-point lead in the men's omnium after the first day of racing, swept the three contests today to win four of the six races, and secure the national title. Elizabeth Newell (Bell Lap Racing/Team Bell Lap) overcame a one-point deficit to Lauren Hall (Colavita/Forno D'Asolo) entering today's contests to win the women's omnium.

"It feels great. This one is really special to me," Lea said. "This is my second consecutive omnium and 12th elite title. I'm really pleased with the way it is going this week and it is really a stepping stone on the way to London; it's not really the end here it is just the beginning."

Newell won each of the women's omnium events in the morning and placed sixth in the 500-metre time trial to help her win the women's omnium.

"I was a little disappointed with a couple races yesterday and just came back refocused for today," Newell said. "I was able to pull off first in the pursuit and the scratch race to really sealed the deal. It was just really the race of my life, so it's really exciting."

500 metre time trial

In the women's 500-metre time trial, Elizabeth Carlson (Black Dog Professional Cycling Team) successfully defended her national title, posting a stellar 36.640. Tela Crane (Lake Washington Velo) earned second place with a time of 37.183.

The first non-omnium race of the event was the men's and women's individual pursuit. Lea and Hammer topped the podiums as each registered sizable wins. Lea was over 10 seconds faster than silver-medalist Daniel Harm (Hagens Berman Cycling), who in the men's contest.

Hammer, adorned in the rainbow jersey she earned in Appeldorn, Netherlands in the spring, ascended to the top step. Newell placed second to earn the silver while Kimberly Geist (Chester County Cycling Foundation-Team Alliance Environmental) was a half second behind Newell to take the bronze medal.

"It's always fun to come out to US Nationals," Hammer said. "I don't know if this is any different. They're all special. It's always great to put on the red, white and blue. I get to wear the rainbow and I get to put the red, white and blue over the top. That's something that every American wants to have. I get to have that title, too."

Scratch races

In the first contest of the evening session, Geist went up a lap on the field with 15 laps remaining in the women's scratch race. Hammer drilled it trying to regain the lap, but was unable to do so. With five laps remaining, Reed broke off the front to earn second place.

The men's scratch was nearly an instant replay of last year's contest. With the pack together, Carney snuck through to the front and won a bunch sprint to defend his scratch race national title, holding off Ian Moir (Long Beach, Calif./Yahoo Cycling Team) at the finish line.

Team Sprint

The men's team sprint was dominated by riders with ties to the west coast. The trio of Michael Blatchford, Kevin Mansker and Dean Tracy (Project London 2012) finished a half-second faster than the silver medalists Giddeon Massie, T.J. Mathieson and James Watkins (Bike Religion). The bronze medalists represented the east coast as Daniel Sullivan, Matthew Baranoski and Andrew Lakatosh (Pure Energy Cycling) earned the bronze medal.