2009's first U.S. UCI BMX event a success in Oklahoma
Colorado Springs, Colo. (Jan. 26, 2009) - Olympic silver-medalist Mike Day (Santa Clarita, Calif./GT) and 16-year-old Dominique Daniels (Gilbert, Ariz.) earned the elite men's and women's victories at the first U.S.-based UCI-sanctioned BMX competition of the 2009 calendar year. The ABA Sooner Nationals went off on Jan. 24 in suburban Oklahoma City as the first of eight U.S. races on the 2009 UCI Calendar.
Against a stacked international field, another U.S. Olympian, Kyle Bennett (Conroe, Texas/Free Agent) finished a close second to compatriot Day. Australia’s Khalen Young (Haro-Rockstar) and Marc Willers (Redman-Rockstar) of New Zealand finished third and fourth, ahead of Olympic bronze-medalist Donny Robinson (Napa, Calif./Hyper Bicycles) who finished fifth. Nic Long (Lakeside, Calif./Intense-Phantom-On Trac), Argentina’s Christian Becerine (Free Agent) and Jarrett Kolich (Santa Barbara, Calif./Avent-Bombshell) rounded out the finals.
A pair of junior elite racers donned the top steps of the podium in the elite women’s event. Daniels took the top prize while 17-year-old Alise Post (Saint Cloud, Minn./Redline) grabbed the second step ahead of veterans Stephanie Barragan (Montclair, Calif./RacePlaceBMX.com-Intense), Arielle Martin (Pleasant Grove, Utah/GT) and Krystal Hime (Minneapolis, Minn./On the Gate Films-SuperX).
Denzel Stein (Desoto, Texas/Redline) topped Canada’s Tory Nyhaug (Redline) and a slew of talented young Americans to win the junior elite men’s event.
The ABA So Cal Nationals in Perris, Calif. is set to be the next U.S. race on the UCI BMX calendar on February 7.
*Photos courtesy Jenny Anderson/BMXmania.com
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Recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling is the official governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States, including road, track, mountain bike, BMX and cyclo-cross. As a membership-based organization and sanctioning body, USA Cycling consists of 64,000+ members, including 57,000 competitive cyclists, 1,500 coaches, 4,000 student-athletes, 2,200 officials, 350 professional cyclists, and 200 certified mechanics. USA Cycling also sanctions 2,500 competitive and non-competitive organized cycling events throughout the United States annually, as well as 1,800 clubs and teams. Associations of USA Cycling include the United States Cycling Federation (road, track & cyclo-cross), the National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), the BMX Association, the National Collegiate Cycling Association and the United States Professional Racing Organization. USA Cycling is also responsible for the identification, development, support and promotion of American cyclists through various athletic initiatives and programs including the USA Cycling National Development Team, the USA Cycling Women’s National Team, the USA Cycling Junior Development Team, Talent Identification and Regional Development Camps, domestic and international race calendars, direct athlete funding and support programs, and educational camps and seminars. USA Cycling also fields and supports U.S. National Teams for various international events, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, Pan American Games, Continental Championship and World Cups across all levels and disciplines of competitive cycling. USA cycling further supports grass roots and locally-based initiatives through its 32 Local Associations and comprehensive network of licensed and certified coaches and officials. Additionally, USA Cycling conducts National Championship events for amateur and professional cyclists, awarding more than 600 national titles annually to men and women in junior, U23, masters, elite, professional and paralympic categories throughout the various disciplines of competitive cycling. To learn more about USA Cycling, visit www.usacycling.org. For media-related or general inquiries, please contact USA Cycling Director of Communications, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867 or alee@usacycling.org.
This Article Published 2009-01-26 14:44:57
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Against a stacked international field, another U.S. Olympian, Kyle Bennett (Conroe, Texas/Free Agent) finished a close second to compatriot Day. Australia’s Khalen Young (Haro-Rockstar) and Marc Willers (Redman-Rockstar) of New Zealand finished third and fourth, ahead of Olympic bronze-medalist Donny Robinson (Napa, Calif./Hyper Bicycles) who finished fifth. Nic Long (Lakeside, Calif./Intense-Phantom-On Trac), Argentina’s Christian Becerine (Free Agent) and Jarrett Kolich (Santa Barbara, Calif./Avent-Bombshell) rounded out the finals.
