Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Mesa University Take Home Team Omnium Titles
Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Mesa University Dominate at 2023 USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships
Colorado Mesa University took home the Varsity omnium title, while the Colorado School of Mines won the Club omnium title at the 2023 USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships. The four-day event saw fierce competition and stunning autumn weather.
In the Dual Slalom Racing event, Avah Cherry from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville secured the gold in the Women’s Club division, while Brevard College rider Nicole Bradbury emerged as the champion in the Women’s Varsity race. George Poggemeyer from Colorado State University won the Men’s Club Dual Slalom Finals, and Matt Sterling from Colorado Mesa University bagged the title in the Men’s Varsity race.
The Cross-Country event saw Cole Punchard from Brevard College taking the win in the Varsity Men’s race, while Paul Vrouwenvelder from Appalachian State University secured the top spot in the Club Men’s event. Madison Maloney from Appalachian State University dominated the Club Women’s race, while Makena Kellerman from Colorado Mesa University emerged as the champion in the Varsity Women’s competition.
Short Track racing saw Owen Cole from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill winning the Club Men’s event, Cole Punchard from Brevard College taking the win in the Varsity Men’s race, Madison Maloney from Appalachian State University dominating the Club Women’s event, and Michaela Thompson from Fort Lewis College winning the Varsity Women’s race.
In the Downhill event, Ben McKenzie from the Colorado School of Mines secured the gold in the Club Men’s division, Cameron Mader from Brevard College emerged as the champion in the Varsity Men’s race, Erin Bixler and Jazlyn Smith from Colorado Mesa University claimed the top two spots in the Varsity Women’s competition, and Amanda Vansant from St. Lawrence University took the win in the Club Women’s division.
The Team Relay event saw Appalachian State University dominating the Club division, while Fort Lewis College emerged as the winners in the Varsity division.
In the Individual Omnium, the winners were Paul Vrouwenvelder from Appalachian State University in the Men’s Club division, Jack Spranger from Colorado Mesa University in the Men’s Varsity division, Avah Cherry from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville in the Women’s Club division, and Nicole Bradbury from Brevard College in the Women’s Varsity division.
Finally, in the Team Omnium, Colorado Mesa University defended their Varsity title, while the Colorado School of Mines secured their first-ever Team Omnium national title in the Club division.
The next event on the Collegiate National Championship schedule is the Cyclocross Nationals in December.
Collegiate racing provides students with the opportunity to race at a high level while attending school, with some riders even going on to become professional bike racers. Interested students can learn more about collegiate racing [here](https://www.usacycling.org/events/collegiate).
