- HOT TOPICS:
- The new VeloNews.com (BETA)
Collegiate track stars battle at nationals
- Article Extras
- Results
David Espinoza (Penn State), Colleen Hayduk (Kutztown University of Pennsylvania) and David Williams (Marian University) turned in strong performances during the USA Cycling National Collegiate Track Championships, held last Thursday through Saturday at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania.
Racing started Thursday at the former Lehigh Valley Velodrome with Espinoza winning the kilometer meter time trial in 1:06:54, 2.3 seconds faster than runner-up Matthew Fox (Midwestern State).
“I was hoping to go faster, I did a 1:06 in August,” the Florida native said.
Espinoza hopes to go faster yet — his goal for elite nationals, slated Wednesday through Sunday at the Home Depot Center Velodrome in Carson, California, is a 1:04. The winning time last year was a 1:03 by Taylor Phinney.
In the women’s 500 meter, Hayduk won in 38:016, 1.4 seconds faster than last year’s winning time in the thin air of Colorado.
On Friday, Hayduk continued her winning ways, taking an aggressive points race. Espinoza did likewise, qualifying first for the match sprints with an 11:07 200-meter time. He was seriously challenged only by Eric Young (University of Indiana-Bloomington), who forced a third ride in the best-of-three semi-finals series.
Saturday brought another victory for Hayduk, this time in the sprints, as she cruised undefeated through the rounds after qualifying fastest at 12:7. The three golds brought her the individual omnium title — indeed, the only individual title she didn’t take was the 3km time trial, won by Kimberley Geist (Northeastern University) in 3:56:34.
Williams won the 90-lap points race, adding that victory to an earlier gold in the pursuit with a 4:49 and a bronze in the kilo in 1:10. His dominance earned him the men’s individual omnium title.
Marian University won the Division I team omnium title, thanks to Williams and victories in all team events — men’s team pursuit, women’s team pursuit and coed team sprint.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology won the Division II team omnium.
