Rivera, Craddock add to national title tallies

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Four national titles were awarded on Thursday as the 2010 USA Cycling Juniors Track National Championships opened at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Trexlertown, Pa. Coryn Rivera (Peanut Butter & Co TWENTY 12), Lawson Craddock (Hot Tubes), Benny Swedberg (Rad Racing), and Christine Barron (VRC) all rode into Stars-and-Stripes jerseys on a very hot day that saw temperatures reach 98 degrees.

Rivera added a 29th gold medal to her collection of hardware when she posted a time of 2:36 over two kilometres to claim the national title in the women’s 17-18 individual pursuit. Rivera bested the time of 2:41 posted by runner-up Somersby Jenkins (Echelon Santa Barbara). Grabbing the bronze medal was Ruth Winder (Peanut Butter & Co TWENTY 12) while Erin Popovich (Texas Matrix Cycling Club) and Kate Wilson (CPT-Connie Cycling) rounded out fourth and fifth.

USA Cycling National Development Program stand-out Lawson Craddock clocked a time of 3:32 in the men’s 17-18 three-kilometre pursuit to beat the time of 3:43 posted by silver medalist Matthew Lipscomb (Greenville Spinners). Riding to the third spot on the podium was Zack Noonan (Young Medalists) while Neal Shepherd (Orlando Road Club) and Ben Barthel (Echelon Santa Barbara) were fourth and fifth.

Posting a time of 1:08, Benjamin Swedberg bested the 1:10 clocked by Charles Martin (ISCorp Cycling Team) to ride into a Stars-and-Stripes jersey in the men’s 17-18 kilometre time trial. Colt Peterson posted the third fastest time to secure the bronze medal as Juan Carmona (Young Medalists) and Matthew Lipscomb (Greenville Spinners) rounded out the podium.

The final national title of day one was awarded to Christine Barron in the women’s 17-18 500-metre time trial. Completing the event with a time of 38.56, she bested the time of 38.659 posted by silver medalist Madalyn Godby. Shelbe Eck clocked the bronze medal time while Coryn Rivera and Stephanie Torres were the fourth and fifth fastest ladies in the competition.

In addition to the four national titles awarded to competitors in the men’s and women’s 17-18 age categories, cyclists in the other three age groups (10-12, 13-14, and 15-16) began their quests for national titles in the overall omniums which will be awarded at the end of the championships on Sunday.

Payton Thomas (FCS-Metro Volkwagon) took the very first win of the morning session, besting silver medalist Lucia Carreno (Major Motion Cycling) and bronze medalist Julia Sante (Farm Team Cycling) in the women’s 13-14 500-metre time trial.

Chazmichael Morales (Connie Cycling Junior Racing Team) posted the fasted race against the clock among men 13-14. He had a very strong ride in the heat of the morning session to beat out runner-up Grayson Brookshire (DIY Music-Asheville Youth Cycling) and third-place finisher Matthew Valencia (Team Specialized Racing)

In the men’s 10-12 time trial, Grant McElroy was the fastest, riding to the top step of the podium ahead of Magnus Hartwell (Young Medalists) and James Brookshire (DIY Music-Asheville Youth Cycling).

In the women’s 10-12 group, it was Devon Nothstein (Team Alliance Environmental) to rider her way to the podium’s top step, besting second- and third-place finishers Courtney Krasley and Rebecca Israel (Connie Cycling)

In the men’s 15-16 sprint, Kaleb Koch (IS Corp Cycling Team) beat out Bobby Unverzagt (South Bay Wheelmen) in the gold medal round to take the top step of the podium while Michael Dessau (Team Holowesko Partners) won the race for third.

Jennifer Valente (GS Adams Avenue Bicycles) was victorious in the women’s 15-16 sprint, beating Tara McCormick (Helens Cannondale) in the final while Kaitlyn Lawrence (Team Vortex) won the bronze medal round.

Throughout the national championships, winners of the men’s and women’s 17-18 individual events will earn start spots for the UCI Juniors Track World Championships in Montichiari, Italy, August 11-15.

Results