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Wentz,
Thompson Take Dual Slalom Titles at Angel Fire
ANGEL FIRE, N.M. (October 18, 2002) -- Steven Wentz
(Univ. of Colo) and MK Thompson (Ft. Lewis College) were
the first of five national champions crowned at the 2002
Collegiate National Mountain Bike Championships Friday.
The late afternoon final round played
out under partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the 40's.
Riders competed head-to-head on a tightly woven course designed
to test bike handling skills from start to finish.
In the men's A- division I race, Steven
Wentz beat out neighbor Lee Cooper (Univ. of Wyoming) to
claim the top spot. Bill Owczarski (Cuesta College) won
the final round over Lee Trumpore (Univ. of Vermont) to
claim second and third place respectively.
MK Thompson had the fastest line to the
finish with a clean run to secure the victory in the womenâs
A- division 1 contest. Rana Schnell (Mesa State College)
captured second with Lisa Myklak (Univ. Of Colo.) taking
third.
Kain Leonard (Western State College) charged
hard to the line to win in the men's A- division 2 category.
Mark Billingsby (East Tennessee State University) took second
with David Thacker (Alice Lloyd College) securing third.
Women's A- division 2 saw Katelyn Wells-Fahling
(Univ. of No. Colo.) notch the dual victory. Amanda McKay
(Union College) took second while Candace Sardens (East
Tennessee State Univ.) notched third.
In the men's B division it was a Ft. Lewis
College affair as riders from Durango dominated the podium.
Chris Heath won with teammates Greg Vogt and Tommy Tokarczyk
right behind in second and third respectively.
Action continues
Saturday as the cross country event takes place on a challenging
11.5 mile loop on Angel Fire Ski Resort. Riders will gain
over 1,500 vertical feet each lap and contend with tight
singletrack and fast fireroads.
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