Collegiate Road Nationals begin with Team Time Trial competition
Fort Collins, Colo. (May 9, 2008) The USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships started up with the team time trial competition in northern Colorado on Friday. With traditional powerhouses shining in Division I and some impressive underdog performances in the Division II Time Trial, the University of California-Davis and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology took the early lead in the overall team standings.
Late arrivals to the start by several DII squads left the competition wide open and Greenville, South Carolina?s Furman University took full advantage, earning an impressive time of 24:08.320. Spencer Beamer, Todd McClure, Chris Butler and Craig McKinney teamed up to post the fifth best time of the day and take the DII crown for the Paladins. After going off first in the start order, the Colorado School of Mines? 24:35.830 ride held up for second place while the University of Denver finished third.
Division II Men's Team Time Trial
1. Furman University 24:08.320
2. Colorado School of Mines 24:35.830
3. University of Denver 25:07.090
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 25:09.600
5. United States Air Force Academy 25:16.860
Omnium races heat up after road race at Collegiate Nationals
The DII men's race was action packed to the finish with Ben Showman of the United States Military Academy attacking solo with around 20-kilometers to go. A chase group including Chris Butler (Furman University), Craig Leukens (Yale University), Zak Grabowski (Colorado School of Mines) and Austin Roach (Princeton University) soon pursued with force. Grabowski hammered it on a descent and the group quickly closed in on Showman who once had a 1:30 gap. The leader was caught in the final kilometers and it was Furman's Butler winning the sprint to the finish over Leukens of Yale. Grabowski came in only seconds later in third with Showman not far behind.
Division II Men's Road Race
1. Chris Butler (Furman University) 2:35:52
2. Craig Luekens (Yale University) 2:35:54
3. Zak Grabowski (Colorado School of Mines) 2:36:04
4. Ben Showman (United States Military Academy) 2:36:10
5. Austin Roach (Princeton University) 2:36:52
Division II Men's Criterium
1. Craig Leukens (Yale University) 1:14:37
2. Spencer Beamer (Furman University) s.t.
3. Thomas Brown (Emory University) s.t.
4. Jason Sears (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) s.t.
5. Zak Grabowski (Colorado School of Mines) s.t.
Division II Men's Overall Standings
1. Craig Leukens (Yale University) 310
2. Chris Butler (Furman University) 259
3. Zak Grabowski (Colorado School of Mines) 242
4. Ben Showman (United States Military Academy) 211
5. Spencer Beamer (Furman University) 202