Four National Champions Crowned at Elite BMX National Championships

Apr 01, 2019

Written by Bart de Jong

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Four National Champions were crowned Friday, March 29, 2019 at the 2019 USA Cycling BMX National Championships at the Rock Hill BMX Supercross Track in Rock Hill, S.C. The event was held in conjunction with USA BMX’s Carolina Nationals. In the Junior Women’s category, the winner was calculated at the end of the three motos* for total points. The podium was a family affair with sisters Emily and Ashley Hayes (Colorado Springs, Colo.) earning first and third places respectively. Payton Ridenour (Pottstown, Penn.) took the silver medal to round out the podium.

For the Junior Men, Spencer Cole (Palm Harbor, Fla.) made his comeback after recovering from a

broken wrist and ankle at the end of 2018 to win the National Title. Darian Toureene (Fort Collins, Colo.) and Cameron Mason (Huntersville, N.C.) took silver and bronze respectively.

For the first time in since 2011, we saw a new face atop the podium in the Elite Women’s Category. Felicia Stancil (Indianapolis, Ind.) won gold. Brooke Crain (Visalia, Calif.) took second after winning the first moto and placing second and third in the following motos. 8-time National Champion Alise Willoughby (Chula Vista, Calif.) fought back from a crash in her first moto to win her second moto and place second in her third to claim the bronze medal.

“I felt really strong out there,” said Stancil after her win, “I got first, first and second in my mains and was able to come away with the win. I feel really strong now that the World Cup season is about to start. I had a great off-season and am looking forward to a great year.”

Although Willoughby did not have the day she was hoping for, she is optimistic about the future for herself and Team USA for BMX heading into 2020. The 2016 Olympic Silver Medalist said, “I think between myself, Brooke, Felicia and some of the other riders, we have a strong chance at qualifying as one of the top countries and sending the maximum number of women to the Tokyo Games.”

In the Men’s Elite Category, Corben Sharrah (Tuscon, Ariz.) proved to be untouchable. After winning all of his motos, he came out of the gates in his main ahead and never looked back, securing another National Title. Jeremy Smith (Dayton, Ohio) placed second and Jefferey Upshaw (Dayton, Ohio) placed third.

When asked what it means to be able to wear the Stars and Stripes on his sleeve for another season Sharrah said, “It’s a great honor to be able to wear it for another season and I’m looking forward to be able to wear it at all the races I’ll be at. We’re heading into the World Cup season. I’m looking forward to all the upcoming races but especially Papendal and Manchester, I definitely have something to prove there. Overall I’m really excited about the whole World Cup series.”

The next USA Cycling National Championships to take place will be Collegiate BMX National Championships in DeSoto, Tex. April 6-7.

Pic by Corben Sharrah