Courtesy Photo

CMU’s cycling team left Colorado Springs this weekend with another National Championship on their record. The track team took first in the D2 Team Omnium Race with a total of 1,077 points and a 223-point lead over Air Force Academy.

“In the team events we rode almost flawlessly, with the girls’ team pursuit getting second and the guys getting seventh,” freshman Zack Lavergne said.

Ariana Dittmer, Ariane Horback, Lexie Millard and Alexis Skarda all assisted in the women’s second place finish with a time of 5:19.645. The Mavericks also placed third in the co-ed team sprint, earning them an additional 94 points after Millard, Horbach, Lavergne, Quint Berkemeier, Amrah Hubbard, and Morgan Ryan finished with a time of 2:18.196.

“Our physical strength is important, but almost equally important is racing smart in order to conserve energy and outsmart the competition,” Lavergne said. “[Coach Patric Rostel]’s advice in every race was very helpful. Especially for me who hasn’t raced the track much.”

This weekend was Lavergne’s second time ever competing on the track. In the Individual Omnium races, including both D1 and D2 cyclists, Senior Alexis Skarda placed eighth and Lavergne placed 10th.

“It’s an amazing feeling that can’t be summed up in words,” Lavergne said. “It’s still sinking in. This is my first ever nationals podium. Being surrounded by a great group of people to support me made it exponentially more profound.”

While this wraps up the Maverick’s track season, cyclists are beginning to prepare for cyclocross, road cycling and the upcoming Rocky Mountain Collegiate Cycling Conference Mountain Bike Championships, which will be hosted in Grand Junction on Oct. 5-6.

cheykoop@mavs.coloradomesa.edu