An exciting and always entertaining junior national competition with twists and turns the whole time. See who won Junior National Track Championships.
Junior Track Nationals was held in Colorado Springs, Colorado this year, right at the foot hills of the Rocky Mountains. The track was steep and fast and the kids took advantage of this. A record was broken and some surprising twists took place.
You can't talk about this year's Junior Track Nationals without mentioning Colleen Hayduk. Colleen set a national record in the women’s 17-18 500-meter time trial on the first day with a time of 36.656 seconds. Colleen went on to win the women’s 17-18 sprint, women’s 17-18 points race and the women's team sprint by teaming up with Coryn Rivera. In the overall points competition Colleen received a gold medal. Colleen will be going on to the U.S. Junior World Championship Team.
Jesse Marans, racing in the 13-14 age group, had a first in the 500 meter time trial and the 4km scratch race. In the 10km points race Jesse was beat by Nick Roeder. Nick broke away from the pack and lead the race for 9 laps, all by himself, with no one catching him to ensure a gold medal for himself in the race. Jesse still managed to come in 2nd in the race and earn a gold medal in the overall points competition with Nick earning enough points during the race to earn a silver medal in the overall points competition.
In the 10-12 competition Calan Farley was the gold medal winner with Chris Baranoski a close silver. Calan won all three races in the competition with Chris on his heels the whole time.
Shane Kline also received a nomination to the U.S. Junior World Championships, which will be held in Mexico this year, by winning the 200 meter sprint with a time of 10.685 seconds.
In the men’s keirin Justin Williams won in a photo finish with Jim Lennon.
In the men’s 17-18 10-kilometer scratch race Lanell Rockmore beat both Shane Kline and Justin Williams by attacking the field with one lap to go to earn him a national title.
Nik Reinert also ended the National Championship with four wins.
Epes Harris had a crash early on, and rumor has it that he broke a rib, but still went on to win a few medals during the Junior National Championships.
If you're interested in reading more about the 2007 Junior Track Nationals Championships you can read what USA Cycling had to say:
Day One: Four national titles awarded on day one of Junior Track Nationals
Day Two: Reinert, Hayduk double up at Junior Track Nationals
Kline, Reinert score third national titles at Jr. Track Nationals
Final seven national titles awarded at Junior Track Nationals
