The Lees-McRae College cycling team captured its tenth national title in program history on Sunday, earning the 2010 Collegiate Cyclo-cross National Championship by slipping past defending Champion Fort Lewis to earn the top spot in the team omnium by more than 30 points.
“This is another proud moment for our cycling team, student-athletes, coaches, fans and alumni as we have captured another National Championship,” said Director of Athletics Craig McPhail. “The dedication of these young people to accomplish this great achievement is a testament to Lees-McRae College
The national crown marks Lees-McRae’s fourth Division I championship in Cyclo-cross in the last five years, including a stretch of three-straight titles from 2006-2008. It is also the 10th team national championship in program history, and the sixth since the school ascended to the Division I level.
For alumni coaches Luke Winger (LMC class of ’07) and Robert Jameson (class of ’07) the hard work in prepping the riders for the conditions and course paid off as they have added barriers and jumps to our cycling trails.
Pacing the Bobcats to victory were four riders finishing in the top five, with Carla Swart and Erica Zaveta battling to third and fourth place finishes in the Division I women's race, and Bradford Perley and Eric Thompson grabbing top five marks in the Division I men's competition, with third and fifth-place finishes, respectively.
The Bobcats also placed two additional riders in the top 10, as Cinthia Lehner finished 10th in the women’s race, and Brian Sheedy placed eighth in the men’s competition. A total of seven Lees-McRae riders finished among the top 20 in the two races, including a 19th-place showing by Kerry Werner in the men’s competition.
Thompson and Perley also performed well in the U23 competition on Saturday, finishing fourth and eighth, respectively, while Sheedy placed 10th in the 35-39 year-old grouping of the master’s competition.
The national crown marks Lees-McRae’s fourth Division I championship in Cyclo-cross in the last five years, including a stretch of three-straight titles from 2006-2008. It is also the 10th team national championship in program history, and the sixth since the school ascended to the Division I level.
For alumni coaches Luke Winger (LMC class of ’07) and Robert Jameson (class of ’07) the hard work in prepping the riders for the conditions and course paid off as they have added barriers and jumps to our cycling trails.
Pacing the Bobcats to victory were four riders finishing in the top five, with Carla Swart and Erica Zaveta battling to third and fourth place finishes in the Division I women's race, and Bradford Perley and Eric Thompson grabbing top five marks in the Division I men's competition, with third and fifth-place finishes, respectively.
The Bobcats also placed two additional riders in the top 10, as Cinthia Lehner finished 10th in the women’s race, and Brian Sheedy placed eighth in the men’s competition. A total of seven Lees-McRae riders finished among the top 20 in the two races, including a 19th-place showing by Kerry Werner in the men’s competition.
Thompson and Perley also performed well in the U23 competition on Saturday, finishing fourth and eighth, respectively, while Sheedy placed 10th in the 35-39 year-old grouping of the master’s competition.
