News
Colorado High School Cycling League Explodes at Chalk Creek Opener
September 13, 2012
Nathrop, Colo. – The Colorado League continued to see explosive growth with 363 racers, including 72 girls, for the September 9 season opener at the McMurry Ranch in Nathrop. With an increase of more than 40% compared to 2011, the competition was challenging and exciting in every category.
Many series veterans who had experienced the widely varying terrain at the ranch before, were in for some new challenges. Dry conditions turned much of the trail into powdery sand, requiring sustained power in previously fast-rolling sections, and changing the tough short climbs and drops into loose technical sections. The local Buena Vista team spent many hours preparing the course prior to race weekend including a Varsity-specific 2-mile extension. The Varsity addition looked easy on the map but turned out to be an energy-sapping, windy, twisty sandy extension.
After the dust settled and the team rankings were calculated, it was a tale of two cities. Boulder High now leads Division 1 over neighboring Fairview High by only 79 points. Vail holds 3rd by 61 points over 4th place Golden with Salida in 5th by a scant 16 points. Durango area schools lead the Division 2 team standings with Durango High ahead of Animas High with Evergreen in 3rd by only 11 points over Grand Valley in 4th .
Chalk Creek Challenge Team Results
Division 1 Standings:
1. Boulder High 3965
2. Fairview High 3886
3. Vail Valley 3679
4. Golden High 3646
5. Salida Racing 3585
Division 2 Standings:
1. Durango High 2131
2. Animas High 2006
3. Evergreen High 1931
4. Grand Valley 1920
5. Green Mountain Composite 1894
Once the neutral lead out dropped away riders cut loose, it was time to create new legends. Sepp Kuss (Durango High), a first time league racer, who spent his summer collecting podium finishes, quickly separated himself from the stacked field. Kuss put a cushion of over one minute in the first lap, then added two more minutes each lap for an amazing 5:24 margin of victory. Contender Zane Godby, (Monarch High), was on Kuss’s wheel until he flatted on lap 2. Blasting into 2nd was Michael Dessau (Boulder High) and Kuss's Durango teammate Levi Kurlander took 3rd.
Durango continued their winning ways in the girl's Varsity class, with another Colorado League newbie, Kaylee Blevins, taking the win. Kaylee brought national and international racing experience with her. Finishing second, was a friendly rival from the other side of Durango, India Waller (Animas High). Another podium regular from last year, Ksenia Lepikhina (Fairview High), worked her way into 3rd.
Varsity Girls
Kaylee Blevins (5) Durango High 14.2 miles in 1:08:30.99
India Waller (8) Animas High School 1:10:39.51
Ksenia Lepikhina (3) Fairview High 1:13:03.65
Kelsay Lundberg (6) Salida High 1:13:35.21
Laurel Rathbun (1) Highlander Racing Composite 1:15:44.44
Varsity Boys
Sepp Kuss (55) Durango High 21.3 miles 1:22:20.90
Michael Dessau (34) Boulder High 1:27:44.37
Levi Kurlander (50) Durango High 1:30:12.76
Stephan Davoust (51) Animas High 1:30:28.63
Kyle Bloesser (41) Independent 1:30:57.19
The largest fields were the JV racers, with 112 boys and 38 girls. Grand Valley's Marta Morris, another league newcomer, powered through the sand pits to confidently take the JV girls win. Junior cyclocross star Mina Anderberg, (Boulder High) 9th grader debuted in second place. The only Brooks Saddle equipped bike in the race, pedaled by Isabella Krompegel-Anliker (Poudre High) finished 3rd. In the packed D1 JV boys race it was Adin Baird (Boulder High) over crosstown rival Kurtis Barth (Fairview), while D2 was completely dominated by Griffith Wendland (Monarch High), with Colorado Riley Ames (Colorado Rocky Mountain School) in 2nd and Trey Lopez (Grand Valley) in 3rd.
JV Girls
Marta Morris (102) Grand Valley 10.6 miles in 1:00:43.65
Mina Anderberg (100) Boulder High 1:01:28.78
Isabella Kromegel-Anliker Poudre High 1:07:26.73
Sierra Trout (101) Durango High 1:09:51.11
Bella Walz (144) Evergreen High 1:10:27.71
JV Division 1 Boys
Adin Baird (223) Boulder High 15.9 miles 1:15:53.94
Kurtis Barth (226) Fairview High 1:17:35.42
Sam Furness (242) Golden High 1:17:36.33
Nevin Whittemore (209) Boulder High 1:20:45.99
Jacob Carter-Gibb (227) Fairview High 1:21:48.77
JV Division 2 Boys
Griffith Wendland (348) Monarch High 15.9 miles 1:21:51.04
Riley Ames (332) CRMS 1:26:14.68
Trey Lopez (341) Grand Valley 1:30:04.82
Charlie Lynch (317) Evergreen High 1:30:12.75
Nial Irwin (313) Evergreen High 1:31:38.11
In the Division 1 boys Sophomore race, Henry Trowbridge (Summit High) confessed at the finish that he might have gotten a little cocky after opening up an early gap, as independent rider Quinn Tirpak (Independent) surprised him by getting within 5 seconds of his rear wheel at the finish. Division 2 was a story of 2 brothers, Liam and Cormac Dunn (Denver East Composite), with Liam taking over trailblazing duties on the 2nd lap for the win.
The top Sophomore girl winner was Taeler McCrerey (Summit High), who's nordic skiing fitness finally won out after trading the lead with two Vail Valley Composite teammates, Anna Martin and Heidi Livran.
Sophomore Girls
Taeler Mccrerey (413) Summit High 0.6 miles in 1:10:34.07
Anna Martin (417) Vail Valley Composite 1:11:06.67
Heidi Livran (416) Vail Valley Composite 1:11:33.16
Claire Vandeyacht (409) Summit High 1:15:40.91
Randi Seiwald (403) Golden High 1:20:07.89
Sophomore Division 1 Boys
Henry Trowbridge (538) Summit High 10.6 miles in 53:02.53
Quinn Tirpak (525) Independent 53:07.69
Emerson Wohlers (528) Crested Butte Community School 58:04.52
Ryan Friedman (509) Boulder High 58:06.93
Tullef Rudlong (535) Lyons High 58:19.58
Sophomore Division 2 Boys
Liam Dunn (639) Denver East Composite 10.6 miles in 53:14.07
Cormac Dunn (640) Denver East Composite 53:39.61
Christian Panozzo (631) Loveland Composite 55:58.63
Grant Gipson (619) Pbville Pedalers 56:44.37
Aaron Selin (621) Front Range Christian 56:47.04
The Freshman may be new, but that doesn't mean they're slow, as proven in the Division 1 Boy's race by winner Quintin Cook (Vail Valley Composite), and 2nd place Jack Tanner (Fairview High) within 12 seconds followed Joel Chapman (Ralston Valley) for 3rd. The D2 boy's lead was taken by another nordic skier, and rapid rider Charlie Greenburg (Durango High), ahead of Jack Ellmer (Fort Collins) and 30 seconds back in 3rd place Charlie Koch (Leadville). The fastest Freshman girl was Meagan Collins (Summit High) who paced herself to a 5 minute win over Jessica Way (Green Mountain Composite) and Brenna Hattler (Golden High) was 3rd.
Freshman Girls
Meagan Collins (700) Summit High 1:16:40.66
Jessica Way (708) Green Mountain Composite 1:21:35.19
Brenna Hattler (701) Golden High 1:25:03.85
Sierra Pagan (706) Fort Collins 1:32:33.17
Malie Minton (705) Fairview High School 1:38:56.71
Freshman Division 1 Boys
Quintin Cook (843) Vail Valley Composite 54:14.48
Jack Tanner (813) Fairview High School 55:12.53
Joel Chapman (831) Ralston Valley High School 55:15.19
Kai Sherman (826) Crested Butte Community School 57:32.68
Patrick Curvin (828) Crested Butte Community School 57:40.40
Freshman Division 2 Boys
Charlie Greenberg (914) Durango High 56:30.05
Jack Ellmer (908) Fort Collins 59:05.92
Charlie Koch (913) Pbville Pedalers 59:40.41
Matthew Judson (912) Green Mountain Composite 59:46.88
Ryan Currie (933) Independent 59:49.76
The most persistent female racer of the day was Sammy Greenwald of Boulder High, who made sure she finished her first ever bike race by walking both up and down the short, steep hills. After being on the course for 2 hours, she still claimed that bike racing was “really fun!” Two JV boys, Mitchell Hawkins (Independent) and Darian Fairclough (Pbville Pedalers) overcame a series of flat tires and gallantly finished their races after being out on course for over 2.5 hours.
Leadville Coach Bruce Kelly, reported that 3 racers on his team were vexed with flats. Darian fixed one flat on his first lap and fought his way back into the field during lap 2, clocking a respectable 34:52 lap. His third and final lap was 1:13:33 because double flatted on the backside of the cours. He and ran a few miles to the finish carrying his bike on his back and cycling shoes on his handlebars because it was more comfortable.
“This was a big disappointment to Darian because he is extremely prepared for this race series. He demonstrated immense mental fortitude by finishing the race without giving up. We are extremely proud of his incredible effort and he is as well. Flats are part of mountain bike racing. His commitment directly transfers to the life lessons we enforce within our team. Winning is secondary.”
The Colorado racers will be hauling their skills and enthusiasm to the next race among the aspen trees at Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby on September 23.
The Colorado High School Cycling League founded in 2009 promotes personal development and teamwork through bicycle racing, and encourages the formation of teams at public and private high schools. With the cooperation of local race promoters and our sponsors, the League organizes a first class series of races designed for high school aged riders. The League makes high school racing the easiest route for youth to get involved in the challenging and exciting world of competitive cycling. The Colorado League is generously supported by donors and sponsors including founding national sponsor, Specialized Bicycle Components, as well as Easton Foundations, Jeep, SRAM, Trek Bicycles, Clif Bar and Co., Primal Wear, QBP, Wheat Ridge Cyclery, Yeti Cycles, Osprey Packs, Wheels Manufacturing, Optic Nerve, CamelBak, GU Sports, Kinetic, Maxxis, adidas Eyewear, Cyclingnews.com, Dirt Rag, Feedback Sports, Fort Lewis College, Fox Racing Shox, Mountain Bike Action, Ritchey Designs, Sidi, and WTB. For more information on the League, visit or contact Kate Rau at kate@coloradomtb.org, Tel. (720) 272-9282.
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