SCAD Cycling Competes at USAC Collegiate Mountain Bike Nationals
DURANGO, Colo. - The SCAD men's and women's cycling programs traveled to Durango, Colo., for the 2022 USAC Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championship on October 14-16.
On Friday, the Bees competed in the cross-country race. The course featured a five-mile lap with approximately 1000 feet of climbing per lap, beginning at 8000 feet and topping out at roughly 9000 feet of elevation.
Men's Varsity Results:
Andrew Sparks (Cape Town, South Africa / Creative Business Leadership) - 21
st
Javier Lopez (Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico / Sound Design) - 34
th
Colin Patterson (Palo Alto, Calif. / Design for Sustainability) – 41
st
Women's Varsity Results:
Jette Aelken (Haltern Am See, NRW, Germany / Architecture) - 14
th
Dagny Palmer (Phoenixville, Pa. / Design for Sustainability) – 47
th
On Saturday, the Bees competed in the short-track cross-country race.
Men's Varsity Results:
Andrew Sparks- 19
th
Javier Lopez- 36
th
Colin Patterson 39
th
Women's Varsity Results:
Jette Aelken- 9
th
Dagny Palmer- 39
th
Sunday saw the Bees competing in the team relay. The relay team consisting of
Andrew Sparks,
Jette Aelken, and
Colin Patterson, came together and had their best performance of the weekend.
Andrew Sparks and
Jette Aelken pulled the team up into seventh place during the first two laps of the four-lap race.
Colin Patterson pulled the team into sixth place during lap three, and
Jette Aelken cemented what would have been their sixth-place finish, almost catching the fifth-place rider from Brevard on the
fourth lap. Unfortunately, a USAC volunteer walked on the course between the Brevard racer and Aelken, causing Aelken to crash 50 meters from the finish line. Aelken walked across the finish line for the Bees' ninth-place finish.
"The Bees put on their best performance to date at Mountain bike Nationals.
Andrew Sparks secured two top third finishes in the Men's XC and STXC races.
Jette Aelken took our first top-10 finish at the Mountain Bike nationals in program history. I was thrilled with the team's performance during the Team Relay, " stated Coach Hoover.
