MIKE DAY WINS 2008 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS - CYCLING (BMX) Dominant Performance Yields Automatic Nomination to 2008 U.S. Olympic Team

Jun 15, 2008

Written by Bart de Jong

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Mike Day (San Clemente, Calif.) won the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Cycling (BMX) on Saturday and will earn the second automatic men's nomination to the squad that will represent the United States later this summer in Beijing. Day won the multi-heat competition in convincing fashion by winning three of four heats and placing second in the other - a performance so dominating that Day was officially declared the winner before the finals. After four heats, Day's advantage in the overall classification had rendered the

remaining six competitors mathematically out of contention, negating the need to contest the finals.

Day began the morning with a victory in the individual time trial when he clocked a winning time of 36.60 seconds. Twenty minutes later he added to his advantage with a win in the first seven-man, head-to-head moto. Entering the second moto with a comfortable 15-8 advantage over Donny Robinson (Napa, Calif.), Day finished second in the competition's third heat, as his lead in the points standings was cut to 22-18 over Robinson.

In the third moto, Day again crossed the line in first to secure 10 points while Robinson's fourth-place effort only yielded an additional 3. Mathematically, Day was untouchable and the finals were cancelled with Day holding a 32-21 advantage over Robinson.

Day joins automatic qualifiers Kyle Bennett (Conroe, Texas) and Jill Kintner (Seattle, Wash.) who ended the 2008 season as the top-ranked athletes in USA Cycling's men's and women's BMX Rankings respectively.

2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Cycling (BMX) - June 14, 2008 - Chula Vista, Calif.

Final Score
1. Mike Day (Santa Clarita, Calif.) 32
2. Donny Robinson (Napa, Calif.) 21
3. David Herman (Wheat Ridge, Colo.) 13
4. Kris Fox (Phelan, Calif.) 7
5. Steven Cisar (Altadena, Calif.) 6
6. Danny Caluag (Chino, Calif.) 5
7. Tyler Brown (San Clemente, Calif.) 0

Time Trial
1. Mike Day 36.60 (5 pts.)
2. Steven Cisar 36.95 (3 pts.)
3. Donny Robinson 37.34 (1 pt.)
4. David Herman 37.44
5. Tyler Brown 37.63
6. Kris Fox 38.01
7. Danny Caluag 38.47

Moto 1
1. Mike Day (10 pts.)
2. Donny Robinson (7 pts.)
3. Danny Caluag (5 pts.)
4. David Herman (3 pts.)

Moto 2
1. Donny Robinson (10 pts.)
2. Mike Day (7 pts.)
3. David Herman (5 pts.)
4. Steven Cisar (3 pts.)

Moto 3
1. Mike Day (10 pts.)
2. Kris Fox (7 pts.)
3. David Herman (5 pts.)
4. Donny Robinson (3 pts.)

Photo by Jerry landrum