Shelbe Eck, Matt Baranoski and Calan Farley don't exactly have targets on their backs this week, but they're sure to draw plenty of attention and glances from aspiring young cyclists.
All three of the young riders are returning national champions and are scheduled to compete in the 2010 USA Cycling Junior Track National Championships at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Trexlertown from Thursday through Sunday.
The nine-session junior nationals will feature 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. sessions Thursday through Saturday, and a final session beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday.
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Eck, from Kutztown, won sprints for the 17-18 women last year and is the favorite to repeat in her final year of competition before moving on to the elite ranks. A berth on the U.S. team that will head to Junior Worlds in Montichiari, Italy, Aug. 11-15 is within her grasp. She earned four medals at junior "natz" last year. The men's and women's "mass start" races, or scratch races, for ages 17-18 also are part of the junior worlds qualifying procedures.
Baranoski, from Perkasie, won the omnium competition for the 15-16 boys, and Farley, from Pittstown, N.J., won the men's 13-14 omnium.
VPCC executive director Marty Nothstein is confident this group of local riders will better the mark of six individual championships and 31 medals area cyclist scored at last year's junior nationals.
"This is a great opportunity for the kids who have come through our programs, programs that are more than 30 years old and that have consistently produced a boat-load of national champions," Nothstein said. "This track and its programs have produced more than 140 junior national champions, and I personally believe we'll add five or six more this week."
Nothstein likes to tout the grassroots developmental programs at the local velodrome such as the Air Products Developmental Program and Bicycle Racing League as excellent starting points for any potential cyclist.
Coaches such as Bob Biese, Jorge Romero, May Britt Hartwell, Gil Hatton and Bobby Livingston work with the youngsters, many of whom go on to race for local trade teams under the same coaches.
"These are kids we developed through our programs just like I did," Nothstein said. "Now they get a chance to shine at junior nationals in front of a hometown crowd just like I did in 1988. It's the same path I've taken and many other great riders like Sarah Uhl, Lauren Tamayo, Jame Carney and many, many more."
Plus, they'll get a chance to receive an extra pump from the hometown crowd on their home "concrete crater."
More than 200 youngsters in age groups from 10-12 to 17-18 are registered for the event, which kicks off at 9 a.m. Thursday with 200-meter time trial sprint qualification for the 15-16 age group. Finals events will be held during each session.
One of the nonlocals to watch out for this week is Coryn Rivera, a 17-year-old from Tustin, Calif., who has already won a combined 28 junior national titles in track, road and cyclocross competitions.
There are plenty of locals to root for, as well. Baranoski has moved up to the 17-18 age group this year, and Farley has moved up to 15-16. Zach Noonan of Kutztown, Zack Semian of Mertztown, Nick Roeder of Orefield, Juan Cormona of Breinigsville, Tommy Schubert of Fogelsville and Kaitlym Lawrence of Emmaus are all competing in the 17-18 age group with hopes of making the U.S. team that will compete at junior worlds.
Greg Ratzell of Blandon, Tyler Nothstein of Orefield, Nadia Latzgo of Fogelsville, Melissa Garvia of Bethlehem and Bailey Semian of Mertztown are competing in the 15-16 age group.
Zack Prebosynak of Bethlehem, Austin Bright of Barto and Evelyn Korbich of New Tripoli are competing in the 13-14 group. Alec Ratzell of Blandon, Parker Jones of Germansville, Magnus Hartwell of Breinigsville and Devon Nothstein of Orefield are all competing in the 10-12 age group.
gary.blockus@mcall.com
610-820-6782
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On this page I will have all information on sports events from Nazareth High School and all other sports events in the country. I will also have news about myself and other people.
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