April 6th, 2011 1:27am
Less than a month ago, Jackie Harmony and her friends were holding local fund raisers to help her fund her dream of competing internationally with the worlds best downhill racers. This past weekend Harmony got her shot when she competed in the Pan American games in Columbia. Where others might have been happy just to be named to the US squad and compete, Harmony was there for one thing. To win. And win it she did as Harmony crushed the field by eight seconds.
As a racer, there is no better way to say "thank you" to your sponsors and the tight knit gravity mountain biking community in Arizona that helped get you there, than to go out and win a big event right out of the box. As one of those supporters, I feel as though my positive vibes for her and small donation helped make some of her dream come true. And I am sure all the others feel the same way. I know that if you asked Jackie she would agree whole heartedly.
While the sweetness of victory is to be savored, it is not to be sat upon as the world cup season is about to begin. Next stop for Team Harmony will be Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, where Jackie and the other American men and women go up against the tough European racers on their home soil. But I fear not. For If heart and karma have anything to do with the results, I'll put my money on Jackie any day.
Even though the mens elite podium was without an American, it was not for lack of effort as America's bright star of the future Mitch Ropelato (Steve Peat Syndicate Team) was just one step back in fourth place and J.D. Swanguen grabbed a solid 14th spot in the largely South American field. Dante Harmony, whose wife won the elite women's division finished 63rd.
Elite Men’s Downhill
1. Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas (Colombia)
2. Mauricio Ernesto Estrada Pulgarin (Colombia)
3. Mario Jose Jarrin Molina (Ecuador)
4. Mitch Ropelato (Ogden, Utah/SPS North America)
14. John Swanguen (San Diego, Calif.)
30. Michael Buell (Nederland, Colo.)
39. Ethan Quehl (Grayson, Ga.)
40. Kyle Thomas (Issaquah, Wash.)
44. Heikki Hall (Durango, Colo.)
63. Dante Harmony (Sedona, Ariz.)
Elite Women’s Downhill
1. Jacqueline Harmony (Sedona, Ariz.)
2. Luana Maria De Souza Oliveira (Brazil)
3. Mariana Salazar Paloma (El Savador)
12. Katie Holden (Scotts Valley, Calif.)
After getting a two rounds of the US Cup under their belts, the US cross country racers went south and took two of the top three steps in both the mens and women's elite mountain bike fields at this years Pan American games.
Jeremiah Bishop who is riding like a kid again continued his excellent early season form with a solid second place finish followed by the defending US XC, Short track and Cyclo-cross champion Todd Wells. US men took 5 of the top eleven positions showing that the US riders are ready for this Olympic qualifying year.
For the women, Heather Irmiger took charge of the second podium spot just one step ahead of Mary CcConneloug as the US women showed excellent form heading into the world cup season.
Both elite cross country races were won by Columbians.
In the junior categories, the BMC MTB development team scored solid results including a third place in the mens category by Stegpen Ettinger, who was looking strong at Fontana the previous week.
Elite Men’s Cross Country
1. Hector Leonardo Paez Leon (Colombia)
2. Jeremiah Bishop (Harrisonburg, Va./Cannondale Factory Racing)
3. Todd Wells (Durango, Colo.)
7. Sam Schultz (Missoula, Mont./Subaru-TREK)
10. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder, Colo./Subaru-TREK)
11. Adam Craig (Bend, Ore./Giant)
26. Troy Wells (Durango, Colo.)
27. Michael Broderick (Chilmark, Mass./Kenda-Seven-NoTubes)
Elite Women’s Cross Country
1. Angela Carolina Parra Sierra (Colombia)
2. Heather Irmiger (Boulder, Colo./Subaru-TREK)
3. Mary McConneloug (Chilmark, Mass./Seven-Kenda-NoTubes)
14. Katie Compton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Planet Bike-Stevens Bikes)
U23 Men’s Cross Country
1. Jaime Yesid Chia (Colombia)
2. Diyer Rincon (Colombia)
3. Stephen Ettinger (Cashmere, Wash./BMC MTB Development Team)
8. Jack Hinkens (Eden Prairie, Minn./BMC MTB Development Team)
13. Kerry Werner (Banner Elk, NC/BMC MTB Development Team)
26. Russell Finsterwald (Boulder, Colo./Subaru-TREK)
U23 Women’s Cross Country
1. Gloria Garzon (Colombia)
2. Yessica Legarda (Colombia)
3. Laura Valentina Abril Restrepo (Colombia)
13. Erica Zaveta (Erwinna, Pa./BMC MTB Development Team)
Location: News >> US takes medals at Pan American Championships
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