USA Cycling Junior Track National Championships - Day one

Trexlertown, PA - Day one of the 2013 USA Cycling Track National Championships just ended. Team Specialized has five teammates at this years championships. Four days of racing in total.

13-14's have 29 male competitors going for one National Championship - Jules Gilliam, 14 years old, made the trip from Manhattan Beach, CA for this one. He'll compete in three events and hopes to score in the top five for each event to win the championship with the most points. Today he rode to 4th place in the 500m in 39.04 seconds. Tomorrow he's up for his scratch race qualifier and final. Saturday is his points race.

15-16's have 52 male competitors going for one National Championships - Gage Hecht, 15, Parker, CO; Jack Maddux, 16, Fresno, CA and Grant McElroy, 15, Portland, OR racing together. The 15-16's have five events and today they sprinted and competed in a points race. Match sprints included a 200 meter time trial to seed themselves in the match sprints. Only the top eight moved to the match sprints. Gage placed 7th, Jack 16th, Grant was 17th. In between some of this action, Gage was 4th in the 48 lap points race, Grant was 7th and Grant was 8th. Top 5 scored omnium points so Gage is sitting 6th with 2 points. Tomorrow they have their 3 kilometer pursuit/ time trial and scratch race qualifier and final. Saturday they finish up with their 500m time trial.

17-18's have a mixture of individual, team and omnium championships. Matthew Valencia, 17, Los Altos, CA is competing in the six-event omnium for starters. Today he finished 4th in the flying one lapper; 9th in the 48 lap points race and 4th in the elimination race. Tomorrow Matt will contest the 3km pursuit, scratch race and one kilometer time trial. Tomorrow night he'll compete in the points race. Saturday he'll enter the scratch race and Sunday he will team up with Jack for a madison.

Jack, Gage and Grant will join Chazmichael Morales on Sunday morning for a 4 person 4 kilometer Team Pursuit.

Lots of racing ahead and it's time to get the darlings off to bed. Cheers, Larry