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Rockburn Challenge - NE
Elkridge, Maryland, USA, December 9, 2007
Shogren and Schempf win elite races
Maxwell clinches overall Mason-Dixon title
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The final race of Mid-Atlantic racing season was marked by a little rain, a little mud and a lot of domination. But it was Kenda Tire's Jennifer Maxwell who walked away the big winner.
The event was the nineteenth and final round of the Mason-Dixon Cyclo-cross Challenge, a contest to determine the best all-around rider in the Mid-Atlantic based on the most, best finishes in the elite and elite age-group divisions. At the start of the elite women's race, Maxwell knew she needed a win to take over the lead in the standings before the men took their turn. Betsy Shogren (FORT Factory Team) dominated the race, but Maxwell did what she needed to do by finishing as the best age 35+ rider and thus scoring the win she needed.
Maxwell's win took on additional significance when the elite men's race lined up without pre-race leaders Kyle Hammaker, who was reportedly preparing for final exams, and an injured Roger Aspholm. That left only late-season masters sensation Dave Weaver (unattached) in contention for the title. Weaver, a former mountain bike pro, returned to bike racing only this year after a several-year stint racing motorcycles. Ironically, his only competition for the title had also made a return to racing this year as Maxwell had spent her free time over the past several years teaching in underprivileged communities in Nicaragua instead of training. Weaver had started the day tied for wins with Maxwell. But, unlike Maxwell, he had no second place finishes. This meant he had to win the race and score wins for both the overall win and best 35+ rider in order to take the title.
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Weaver was dominant the week before in the Verge MAC races that put him in contention for the Mason Dixon Challenge, so it seemed, at least on paper, that he had a very good chance to take the race win. Unfortunately for Weaver, C3-Sollay.com's Wes Schempf didn't read that paper and stormed away from the start to win the elite men's race in dominating fashion.
Behind Schempf, the day's best race was taking place as Schempf's C3-Sollay.com team-mate Chris Auer dueled with Blair Saunders of Henry's Bikes for second place overall. The two kept swapping positions with Auer having the upper hand in the technical sections while Saunders had the horsepower. With a third of a lap left to go, Auer dove inside Saunders with a perfectly executed block pass heading toward the barriers. But only a minute or so later, Saunders out powered Auer through a muddy flat section to take the position by a few bike lengths.
After the event, Maxwell announced that she was donating a portion of her Mason-Dixon Challenge winnings to the Christopher Reeves Foundation in memory of her late father, who was paralyzed.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by FJ Hughes Photography /www.FHughesPhoto.com
- Women's winner Betsy Shogren (Fort Factory Team).
- Elizabeth Harlow (Hunt Valley Bicycles/Marathon Roofing).
- Wes Schempf (C3/Sollay.com) took the lead early in the first lap.
- Jim Bronson of host team Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV.
- Wes Schempf (C3/Sollay.com) focused on victory and showing great form a week before 'Cross Nationals.
- Michael Birner (All American Bicycle Center).
- After winning last week's Capitol Cross Classic, Dave Weaver struggled.
- Chris Auer (C3/Sollay.com) leads Blair Saunders (Henrys) in one of the closest battles of the race.
- Ethan Townsend (C3/Sollay.com).
- Wes Schempf (C3/Sollay.com) clear in the lead.
- In the final lap, Chris Auer (C3/Sollay.com) put in a strong attack only to be caught and passed by Blair Saunders at the line.
Results
Elite men 1 Weston Schempf (C3-Sollay.com) 2 Blair Saunders (Henrys) 3 Ethan Townsend (C3- Sollay.com) 4 Andrew Wulfkuhle (C3/Sollay.com) 5 Eric Russell (Clif Barz) 6 Dave Weaver 7 Betsy Shogren (Fort Factory Team) DNF Adam Driscoll (Adventures for the Cure) DNF Eric Linder (Hunt Valley Bikes / Marathon Roofing) Elite women 1 Betsy Shogren (Fort Factory Team) 2 Jessica Hill (Trails End Cycling) 3 Jennifer Maxwell (Team Kenda Tire) 4 Elizabeth Harlow (Hunt Valley Bicycles/Marathon Roofing) 35 + Elite men (Masters) 1 Kris Auer (C3-Sollay.com) 2 Gunnar Shogren (FORT Factory Team) 3 Roger Masse (All American Bicycle Club) 4 Michael Kolb (Chrsitiana Care PT+/FSVS) 5 Marc Gwadz (DCMTB/City Bikes) 6 Jim Bronson (Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV) 7 Ron Huebner (Potomac Velo Club) DNF Michael Birner (All American Bicycle Center) DNF Chris Newell (Hunt Valley Bicycles/Marathon Roofing) DNF Randall Root (ABRT/Latitude) DNF Bernie Shiao (Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV) DNF Jay Downs (Fort Factory) 45 + Elite Men 1 Gunnar Shogren (FORT Factory Team) 2 Roger Masse (All American Bicycle Club) 3 Jim Bronson (Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV) 4 Ron Huebner (Potomac Velo Club) DNF Bernie Shiao (Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV) DNF Randall Root (ABRT/Latitude) Men Category 4 1 Alex Driscoll 2 Loren Mcwethy (DCMTB/City Bikes) 3 Matthew Hennessy (Team BBC) 4 Ken Woodrow (Squadra Coppi/IM Saab) 5 Benjamen Bassett 6 Stephen Riskus 7 James Johnson (Germantown/Avalon/Fix Bikes) 8 Todd Bickling (Team N~tieractive/Bike Doctor-Waldorf) 9 Loren Vandivere (The Bike Lane) 10 Mark Drajem (DCMTB/City Bikes) 11 Dean Jagusch 12 Michael Beshore 13 Gregory Saylor (Adventures For The Cure) 14 Joe Lillibridge (Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV) 15 Kyle Friis (Bucknell Cycling) 16 Paul Bayne (Kelly Benefits Strategies/LSV) 17 John Glodek (NCVC/INOVA Health Systems) 18 John Bauer 19 Michael Giancoli (Hub United) 20 John Ludicke 21 Dave Vannier (DCMTB/City Bikes) 22 Gary Sterner 23 Matthew Brancheau (Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV) 24 James Carlisle 25 Joshua Nadas (Proteus) 26 Tim Blanchard (The Children in the Shoe) 27 Mike Schiavo (Lanterne Rouge) 28 Glenn Humphrey 29 Justin Mauch (NCVC/Inova Health System) 32 Ben Vogelsang 33 Rodges Ankvah 34 Jonathan Ivins (Squadra Coppi/IM Saab) 35 Phillip Esempio (Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV) 37 Joseph Ventosa (proteus bicycles) 38 James Mcneely (Squadra Coppi / IM Saab) 39 Bill Davis (Potomac Velo Club) 41 John Maisto (Bicycle Place Velo Club) 42 David Battan (Squadra Coppi/IM SAAB) 43 Keith Esham (Team Biohazard) 47 Iain Mcfarlame 48 Jeff Wood (Cycle to Fitness) 52 Monte Schwarzwalder 54 Darryl Smith 57 John Elliott DNF Jackson Barr (NCVC/Inova Health System) DNF Eric Chessler (Race Pace/Velo Club Of Baltimore) DNF Jake Danoff (DCMTB/City Bikes) DNF Joseph Manning (Guys Racing) DNF Bill Vickers Women category 3/4 1 Christina Briseno (Route 1 Velo/Capitol Hill Bikes) 2 Kristina Adams (All American Bicycle Center) 3 Lynda Artusio 4 Jean Colsant (Squadra Coppi) 5 Ilana Knopf (DC MTB/City Bikes) 6 Lindsey Hillesheim (Squadra Coppi/IM Saab) 7 Amelia Bell (RacerHeads SLC) 8 Cynthia Johnson (Artemis) 9 Kathleen Wulfkuhle (C3-Sollay.com) 10 Yo Kumm (Proteus) 11 Christina Huebner (Potomac Velo Club) 12 Constance Mack (Trail's End Cycling) 13 Bridget Zelman (Potomac Velo Club) 14 Denise Clearwater DNF Christie Finney (The Children in the Shoe) DNF Jennifer Pitt (Hunt Valley Bicycles/Marathon Roofing) 35+ Men Category 3/4 1 Marc Vettori (C3-Sollay.com !) 2 Chris Nystrom (C3-Sollay.com) 3 Karl Connolly (Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV) 4 Phil Smith (Pit Bike Maryland) 5 Alex Monte-Sano 6 David Blodgett (All American Bicycle Club) 7 Chip Sovek (Potomac Velo Club) 8 Scott Thompson (Squadra Coppi/IM Saab) 9 Bruce Buckley (THE Bike Lane) 10 Geoffrey Heintz (The Children in the Shoe) 11 Keith Rohr (Adventures for the Cure) 12 Norman Kreiselmeier (Team Army) 13 Joe Traill (C3-Sollay.com !) 14 Jonathan Seibold (Family Bike Shop) 15 Todd Gue (dhbd /bicycle place velo) 16 Norman Brach (C3-Sollay.com) 17 Chris Macon (Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV) 18 Michael West (themorningride) 19 Patrick Leonard (Evolution Racing) 20 Trevor Miller (Family Bike Shop) 21 Mike Zaloudek (TheMorningRide) 22 Phillip Esempio (Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV) 23 James Saunders (Route 1 Velo/Capitol Hill Bikes) 24 Elaine Hursen DNF Mark Drajem (DCMTB/City Bikes) DNF Barry Holman (Team Fuji) DNF Bernard Mcdonald (C3/Sollay.com) DNF James Mcneely (Squadra Coppi / IM Saab) DNF Thor Engblom (NCVC/Inova Health System) 45+ Men category 3/4 1 Albert Greene (Yellow Breeches Racing) 2 Shawn Downing (Chesapeake Wheelmen/King Pawn) 3 Karl Kensinger (NCVC/Inova Health System) 4 David Troop (First State Velo Sport) 5 Chip Lortz (Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV) 6 John Rogers (Clean Currents p/b Don Beyer Volvo) 7 Paul Wahner (Well Adjusted Racing/Wahner Chiropractic) 8 Joseph Kotun (Lanterne Rouge) 9 Bill Feasly (Clean Currents p/b Don Beyer Volvo) 10 Mark Wanco (World Cup Ski and Cycle cycling team) 11 David Tambeaux (TMR) 12 Michael Zoeller (RacerHeads SLC) 13 Steve Klose (TMR) 14 Alan Romefelt (Kelly Benefit Strategies/LSV) 15 Michael Oliver (themorningride) 16 Dave Baumgardner (Tri-State Velo) DNF Bob Gillespie (All American) Men Category 3/4 1 Jim Mudd (Hunt Valley Bicycles/Marathon Roofing) 2 Taylor Jones (Inland Construction/BTD) 3 Trevor Shattuck (Hunt Valley Bicycles/Marathon Roofing) 4 Luke Sandusky 5 Ian Mathias (Hunt Valley Bicycles / Marathon Roofing) 6 Joseph Zorn Iii (Christiana Care PT+ / FSVS) 7 John Hostetter Iii (C3-Sollay.com) 8 Peter Kennedy (C3 Sollay.com) 9 Sam Okeefe (C3-Sollay.com) 10 Henry Tremper (FSUS) 11 Jed Prentice (Bike Doctor Waldorf) 12 Matthew Panas (the Bare Wall) 13 Stephen Wahl (AVC/ Team Hagerstown-Washington Co) 14 George Micinkoyd (Squadra Copi) 15 Mark Lorie (Kelly Benefits Strategies/LSV) 16 Joseph Kotun (Lanterne Rouge) DNF Adam Driscoll (Adventures for the Cure) DNF Kyle Friis (Bucknell Cycling) DNF Charly Hermanson (Kelly Benefits Strategies/LSV) DNF Ken Woodrow (Squadra Coppi/IM Saab) DNF Jed Prentice (Bike Doctor Waldorf) DNF Patrick Blair (Adventures for the Cure) Little Belgians 1 Emily Battan 2 Sam Berg 3 Nicholas Engblom (NCVC/Inova Health System) 4 Avy Rohr (Adventures for the Cure) 5 Brendan Weaver (Mom, Dad & Joe's Bike Shop) 6 Alec West (themorningride) Juniors U16 1 Justin Mauch (NCVC/Inova Health System) 2 Jackson Barr (NCVC/Inova Health System) 3 Emily Huebner (Potomac Velo Club) 4 Jake Thompson (Squadra Coppi/IM Saab) 5 Noah Bell (RacerHeads SLC) 6 Nicholas Battan (squadra coppi) 7 Daniel Bell (RacerHeads SLC) 8 Holden Rohr (Adventures for the Cure) 9 Zeke Rogers (Clean Currents p/b Don Beyer Volvo) 10 Alec West (themorningride) 11 Avy Rohr (Adventures for the Cure) 12 Coston Noonan Masters 55+ 1 James Carlson (Potomac Velo Club) 2 James Wagner (Clean Currents p/b Don Beyer Volvo)
