USAC Collegiate National Championships: Day 1 by rsdobbins

Day 1 of racing got underway at Snowshoe Bike Park for the USAC Collegiate National Championships. With Short Track XC (STXC) taking place in the morning, 4 national champions were crowned in both D1 & D2 Men's and Women's Divisions. Simultaneous to the STXC racing was an open dual slalom practice adjacent to the start finish line giving spectators more viewing options, keeping them entertained while the STXC competitors were out of view. The day finished up with seeding runs for all categories of DH with local favorite Kyle Grau seeding 1st in men's D1. Full seeding results will be available shortly.

With dual slalom practice happening right next to the short track start finish. There was no shortage of entertainment.

With a field of 80 riders the Men's D1 start was jam packed.

A front row starting place was key to getting out in the front on the short up hill start.

Riders plunge into the steep grassy turn after leaving the Snowshoe Village.

4th place mens D1 finisher Kyle Trudeau riding for University of Arizona.

3rd place mens D1 finisher Stephan Davoust riding for Fort Lewis College.

Familiar to most from his World Cup DH skills, Walker Shaw is competing in all events this weekend. He finished in a respectable 17th in the mens D1 short track race.

Luke Allen of Midwestern State University exiting the Snowshoe Village.

Riders plunge down Cross Cut ski slope before making a sharp left turn to climb back to the start finish.

Eventual 1st and 2nd place finishers pacing through the final laps.

Richard Cypress Gorry of Brevard College would lead into the first turn on the final lap, but would have to settle for 2nd place in mens D1 by the end of the lap.

Luke Vrouwenvelder of UNC-Chapel Hill would come to the line a bike length ahead to take the win in mens D1 short track.

Mens D2 riders on the opening laps.

Mens D2 riders take to the final lap in the short track competition.

8th place mens D2 finisher Sterling Guy of Warren Wilson College and 11th place finisher Jake Wands of Colorado School of Mines, take to the final lap.

1st place finisher in mens D2, Robert Rimmer of King University.

The lead pack in the women's D1 race was hotly contested.

5th place finisher Allison Arensman of Brevard College taking a turn at the front of the pack in women's D1 short track.

1st place finisher Coryn Rivera of Marian University, pacing her self through the opening laps of women's D1 short track.

The short track event atop Snowshoe Mountain included a deceptively high amount of climbing.

12th place finisher in women's D1 short track, Natalia Franco of Colorado Mesa University.

It was not all pain in the women's D1 short track event, Lisa Chamberland from Universoty of Vermont manages a smile mid way through.

13th place finisher in women's D1 short track, Melissa Seib fro University of Vermont.

Hannah Finchamp of Lindenwood Universty lead a large portion of the women's D1 short track, but would have to settle for 3rd place in the end.

Going into the final laps the leading 3 women were neck and neck.

In the end Coryn Rivera of Marian Universoty emerged victorious in women s D1 short track . With Emily Shields of UNC-Greensboro coming in 2nd.

In the end Coryn Rivera of Marian University emerged victorious in women's D1 short track. With Emily Shields of UNC-Greensboro coming in 2nd.

Women's D2 racers rounding the opening turn.

Kaysee Armstrong of King University was dominate in her win in the women s D2 short track race.

Kaysee Armstrong of King University was dominant in her win in the women's D2 short track race.

4th place finisher in women's D2 short track, Caitlin Sullivan of US Air Force Academy.

2nd place finisher in women's D2 short track, Allison Jones of Warren Wilson College.

Kaysee Armstrong all smiles after taking the women's D2 short track Collegiate National title.

Results
Men's D1 STXC

1 Luke Vrouwenvelder, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2 Richard Cypress Gorry, Brevard College
3 Stephan Davoust, Fort Lewis College
4 Kyle Trudeau, University of Arizona
5 Matthew Clements, Lees-McRae College

Women's D1 STXC

1 Coryn Rivera, Marian University
2 Emily Shields, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
3 Hannah Finchamp, Lindenwood University
4 Emma Swartz, Marian University
5 Allison Arensman, Brevard College

Men's D2 STXC

1 Robert Rimmer, King University
2 Benjamin Senkerik, Ripon College
3 Cameron Smith, Western State Colorado University
4 Peter Noon, Western State Colorado University
5 Elliott Baring, University of North Georgia

Women's D2 STXC

1 Kaysee Armstrong, King University
2 Allison Jones, Warren Wilson College
3 Katherine Shields, Wake Forest University
4 Caitlin Sullivan , US Air Force Academy
5 India Waller, Warren Wilson College

Full Results from Short Track XC

Stay tuned for Day 2 action including DH and XC finals.
View Full Day 1 Image Gallery for More DH Action

MENTIONS: @snowshoebikepark-official @rsdobbins

Author Info:

rsdobbins

Member since Jul 29, 2011
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