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Results

Prenzlow and Wong Take Elite Gold

By Doug McWhinney

Defending California State Cyclocross Champion Brent Prenzlow (Celo Pacific/Cannondale) and North Carolina mountain bike pro Ryan Trebon (Krystels Cycling) shredded the Mens Elite field in the California State Cyclocross Championship. Prenzlow, hot off strong performances at the Redline Cup and Wheeler Farm races in Utah, defended his State Championship and won the race over the very aggressive Trebon. Trebon, who just arrived on the left coast to prepare for the U-23 cyclocross nationals in Napa, fired the afterburners at the gun and Prenzlow was the only one who could go with him. Trebon and Prenzlow opened a big gap on the first lap and were never threatened. The rest of the field, led by Joseph McNerney (Alameda Bicycle), Michael Hernandez (Reno NV) and Jason VanMarle (JAX/Trek/VW), started the battle for the final podium spot while they were licking their wounds caused by the blazing start.

The younger Trebon attacked Prenzlow repeatedly in the early laps, but could not break free, so the duo waged a fast, exciting battle to the end. The race was decided near the finish when the patient Prenzlow accelerated hard over the barriers into the main run-up while Trebon botched his remount. Prenzlow pushed hard to the finish and had time for yet another State Championship victory salute. The fight for third place was won by VanMarle, who has been a consistent top-three finisher in southern California cyclocross racing this year.

The State Championship Race drew 115 mud-thirsty cyclocrossers in ten categories, each looking for championship medals and points towards the So. Cal. 'Cross Cup (SCCC) series overall. The recent rains, cooler weather (a chilly 46 degrees at 7:00AM - Oooooo, brrrr) and partly-cloudy skies made Sunday feel like a day for cyclocross. The course was mostly wide and fast consisting of 85% dirt roads, 10% grass and 5% pavement. The course featured three barrier sections, including a ride-able grassy hill with barriers at the bottom and top (which forced the riders to think about whether riding or running was the best option between the barriers), a short, steep un-ride-able "wall", off-camber grassy turns and a slow, technical turn through a soft dirt "pit".

In the Masters 35+ race, defending champ Emilio Cervantes (Excel Sports), Gary Hansen (Mercury) and race director Doug McWhinney (Celo Pacific) broke free early and waged a tactical battle to the finish. With one-third lap remaining and Hansen leading, McWhinney attacked to get to the technical "pit" first, but Hansen parried the move. The battle between McWhinney and Hansen opened the door for Cervantes to slip by both of his combatants and enter the "pit" first. Hansen followed Cervantes while McWhinney bobbled in the "pit", ending his chances. Cervantes held off Hansen to take the win and defend his State Championship jersey.

The Masters 45+ race saw Paul Suding (Revolution), down from Santa Barbara, grab the state championship over Randy Liechty (Swami's) and Rickey Russell (Cycles Veloce), the winner of the first two SCCC races. Local rider Gary DeVoss (Cyclovets) took the Masters 55+ state championship honors ahead of defending champ Jim Cushing-Murray (Celo Pacific) and Michael Jenkins (San Diego Bicycle Club).

The Elite Women's category included the very strong Nadine Bruhn (Stevens Jeantex), winner of SCCC #2, and defending state champion Dorothy Wong (Kelly Bike Company), fresh off of her 11th place at the Utah Redline Cup race. Bruhn took her second consecutive victory over Wong, but Wong earned the state championship title since Bruhn is not a California rider. The Master Women 35+ championship was won by Jenny Frayer (Reno) over Kelly Roberts (P.A.A.) and Dianna Barnes (P.A.A.). Juozas Martynaitas (Reno) took home the Junior 15-18 state championship title followed by local rider Freyr Petursson (Unattached) and David Mendoza (B&L), who was the winner of SCCC #1. In the Junior 12-14 race, Ricardo Cruz (B&L) earned the state championship gold over Luke Kinney (Team Specialized) and Casey Fersch (Race Haus), who won SCCC#2.

The non-state-championship categories had good size fields and close, exciting racing. The Mens B category saw close racing early between Mark Scott (B3 Wings), Craig Kozak (Active Endeavors), Eric Luk (PCC) and Ken Skogerson (Celo Pacific). The bunny-hopping Thad Sparrow (Celo Pacific) was not in the fray this race since he planned on joining the chase for a state championship medal in the Elites. Scott took the victory this week over Kozak, with Luk claiming the third spot. Bret Suding (Unattached) won the Mens C race after a great battle with Dan Breyer (Celo Pacific), and James Doh (Bicycle Johns) rounded out the top three. The top podium spot in the Mens D race was taken by Sean Zook (Unattached), and Jeanne Bernhard (Celo Pacific), well on her way to victory in the SCCC series, grabbed her third consecutive SCCC victory in the Womens B race.

The So. Cal. 'Cross Cup Series (sponsored by Clif Bar, Spinergy, Bike 101, and Sock Guy) will take a break until January 5th, 2003 since many riders will be attending the cyclocross national championships in Napa (December 14-15) and taking a break over the holidays. Don't forget to check www.celopacific.org for the results, race reports, photos, series standings, race flyer, prize lists, directions, and more.

Photography

Images by Richard Murphy

• Shaun Albin (Squadra Super Cross) on the hike a bike during the Men's 35+ race.
• Rob Bernhard (Celo Pacific) pushes his bike up the hike a bike (Men's 45+).
• Jim Cushing-Murray (Celo Pacific) on his way to a Silver medal in the Men's 55+ race.
• Kevin Kruger (Taylor Made) running through the barriers (Men's B).
• The winning break in the Men's 35+ race with eventual winner Emilio Cervantes (Excel Sports), 2nd place Gary Hansen (Rocket Parts), and 3rd place Doug McWhinney (Celo Pacific).
• Gary Devoss (Cyclovets) 55+ CA. State Champion.
• David Bales (Celo Pacific) running through the triple barrier section (Men's 35+).
• Dorothy Wong (Kelly Bike) winner of the Elite Women's CA State Championship.
• Erik Luk (PCC) powers up a short hill on the backside of the course (Men's B)
• Nadine Bruhn (Sevens Jeantex) climbing her way to the win in the Elite Women's race.
• Ken Skogerson (Celo Pacific) bunny hops the curb after passing through the Clif Bar finish area in the Men's B Race.
• Jeanne Bernhard (Celo Pacific) on her way to her third win in the series (Women's B).
• Jennifer Franklin (Simply Fit) shoulders her bike on the run up (Elite Women).
• The Elite Men's field.
• Junior Perry Paolini (Balance Bar) bunny hops a barrier in the Men's Elite race.
• The Elite Men's field strings out down the front stretch.
• Brent Prenzlow (Celo Pacific) and Ryan Trebon (Krystel) form the winning break early in the Elite Men's race.
• Erik Burgan (PBO/Spinergy) clears a barrier (Elite Men).
• Brent Prenzlow (Celo Pacific ) and Ryan Trebon (Krystel) stayed neck and neck for most of the race (Elite Men).
• After winning the Juniors 15-18 CA State Championship, Juozas Martynaitas (Reno) raced the with the Elite Men.
• Brent Prenzlow (Celo Pacific) crosses the line for the Elite Men's CA State Championship.

Results

Elite Men (60 minutes)
 
1 Brent Prenzlow (Celo Pacific)                      State Champion
2 Ryan Trebon (Krystels)
3 Jason Van Marle (Jax/Trek/VW)                      Silver Medal
4 Joseph McNerney (Alameda Bicycle)                  Bronze Medal
5 Michael Hernandez (Reno)
6 Leonardo Sandoval (Team Zombies)
7 Jeff Herring (Kelly Bike Company)
8 Garnet Vertican (ODI)
9 Perry Paolini (Balance Bar )
10 Erik Burgan (PBO/Spinergy)
11 Thad Sparrow (Celo Pacific)
12 Griffith Vertican (ODI)
13 Juozas Martynaitas (Reno)
14 Heath McGee (ODI)
 
Elite Women (45 minutes)
 
1 Nadine Bruhn (Stevens Jeantex)
2 Dorothy Wong (Kelly Bike Company)                  State Champion
3 Jennifer Franklin (Simply Fit)                     Silver Medal
 
Masters 35+ (45 minutes)
 
1 Emilio Cervantes (Excel Sports)                    State Champion
2 Gary Hansen (Mercury)                              Silver Medal
3 Doug McWhinney (Celo Pacific)                      Bronze Medal
4 Chris Gallup (Unattached)
5 Jessie Gascon (Team Shimano)
6 Paul Cusick (PBO/Spinergy)
7 Robert Abell (Unattached)
8 Brian Starr (Simply Fit)
9 Shaun Albin (Squadra Super Cross)
 
Masters 45+ (45 minutes)
 
1 Paul Suding (Revolution)                           State Champion
2 Randy Liechty (Swami's)                            Silver Medal
3 Rickey Russell (Cycles Veloce)                     Bronze Medal
4 Jonathan Livesay (Merrill Lynch)
5 Mike Jennings (IB Racing)
6 Stan Appel (Velo Avanti)
7 Charles Ross (Janes Cosmetics)
8 Willy Bondurant (Velo Velocity)
9 Bill Koerner (Los Gatos)
10 Jeff Kinney (Team Jesus)
 
Masters 55+ (45 minutes)
 
1 Gary Devoss (Cyclovets)                            State Champion
2 Jim Cushing-Murray (Celo Pacific)                  Silver Medal
3 Michael Jenkins (San Diego Bicycle Club)           Bronze Medal
4 Steve Brown (Incycle)
5 Lee Willmore (Unattached)
 

Master Women 35+ (45 minutes)
 
1 Jenny Frayer (Reno)                                State Champion
2 Kelly Roberts (PAA)                                Silver Medal
3 Dianna Barnes (PAA)                                Bronze Medal
 
Juniors 15-18 (35 minutes)
 
1 Juozas Martynaitas (Reno                           State Champion
2 Freyr Petursson (Unattached)                       Silver Medal
3 David Mendoza (B&L)                                Bronze Medal
4 Daniel Richardson (Unattached)
 
Juniors 12-14 (35 minutes)
 
1 Ricardo Cruz (B&L)                                 State Champion
2 Luke Kinney (Team Specialized)                     Silver Medal
3 Casey Fersch (Race Haus)                           Bronze Medal
4 Travis Barnes (Encino)
 
Men B (45 minutes)
 
1 Mark Scott (B3 Wings)
2 Craig Kozak (Active Endeavors)
3 Erik Luk (P.C.C.)
4 Ken Skogerson (Celo Pacific)
5 Ben Eicholtz (Radsport)
6 Paul Hernandez (Bicycle John)
7 Mark Fluss (Unattached)
8 Alex Ter-Vrugt (Unattached)
9 Jeffery Wilson (Cycles Veloce)
 
Men C (35 minutes)
 
1 Bret Suding (Unattached)
2 Dan Breyer (Celo Pacific)
3 James Doh (Bicycle Johns)
4 Toby Rider (S.B Wheelmen)
5 David Reilly (San Diego Bicycle Club)
6 David Bales (Celo Pacific)
7 Greg Zackowski (San Diego Bicycle Club)
8 Steve Scott (Comerica Bank)
9 Shawn Lowery (Celo Pacific)
10 Richard Murphy (Celo Pacific)
 
Men D (35 minutes)
 
1 Sean Zook (Unattached)
2 Matt Hale (Unattached)
3 Rich Fersch (Race Haus)
4 Robert Sandoval (Team Ape)
5 Joe Aldaco (Unattached)
 
Women B (35 minutes)
 
1 Jeanne Bernhard (Celo Pacific)
2 Shannon Daley (Unattached)