Youth Track Nationals

[Lister Farrar]

Just wanted to give you all a reminder that the Tripleshot Cycling Club youth team is ready to race tomorrow in the 2017 National U17-u19 Track Championships at the Pan-Am velodrome in Milton.

Thank you to all the sponsors, club exec and members, race organizers, equipment and clothing donors, parents, training partners, and competitors for all your help to get there.

The all u17 team consists of Aedan Crocker, Casey Garrison, Jessica Maitland, Megan Barnes, Riley Pickrell, and Sarah Van Dam.

Riley and Sarah are defending national champions in several events each, and expect to be competitive this year as well. The others are in their first year at nationals, but training has gone well and they're excited. They are coached in Milton by two-time Olympic track coach Kurt Innes.

Tripleshot alumnae Erin Attwell (Red Truck Racing) and Adam Attwell (Smart Savvy) are racing too.

From a logistics point of view, we're very happy to report the new Champion Systems skinsuits arrived today. Attached is a picture of four of them, they sent to calm my nerves they might not arrive.

Schedule is here: (pursuit qualifying is 10 am PDT Friday)
http://racetiming.ca/eventpage.php?EventId=1709

Live stream coverage here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWmS0j ... kAUD7-jl-A

[Lister Farrar]

Here they are watching the women's national team track endurance team training, only 10 days out from the world championships in Hong Kong.

TS alumnus Jay Lamoureux is there too, and expected to be a starter with the men's team pursuit team.

[Lister Farrar]

A little background on the preparation for nationals.

Most of these riders did the fall 'cross season (or speed skating), took a short break, then started training in early December for strength and mobility, hiking, ultimate frisbee, and trainer sessions. Then weekly 5-6x/week in Jan through March, gym sessions 2-3 x week, a night cross adventure, a trainer session, and mtbing at Hartland on Sundays.

Once a month, (Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar) they joined up with the other clubs in BC sending riders to track nationals, (TAG, Devo, Red Devils, and others), with the support of cycling BC, for a two-day camp Thursday and Friday, of two sessions a day at the Burnaby indoor velodrome. The program called Teams of BC.

For the island riders the camps meant a 4:30 am wake up call, for the 7 ferry, then 10-12 pm, and 1-13 pm training, staying at a billet in Vancouver, then the same again friday, then back on the ferry.

Special thanks to the team of coaches who worked at the camps with all the riders who committed to the training: Tim Sherstibitoff (Devo, ex national team), Kurt Innes (TS, Olympian and former Olympic coach), Richard Wooles (Cycling BC junior coach, former Olympic coach), Chris Rubuliak (Kelowna Red Devils), Jeff Ain (CSI, former junior worlds coach) and me.

And thanks to the sponsors who made it happen: Cycling BC for paying for track rental, and collecting registrations for the camps, Russ Hays who provided their van for the TS team to get to the camps, Champion Systems for skinsuits, Accent Inns who provided a hotel room at each camp for the coaches and any sick kids who couldn't stay with billets, all the TS members and sponsors whose contributions each year to the program help enable us to pay coaches.

[Lister Farrar]

Erin Attwell was fastest qualifier in the u19 girls 2000 m just now, 48.3 kph!

[Lister Farrar]

Here's the TS team at Milton.

Erin Attwell is riding for Team BC, not sure who Adam is riding for, Team BC or Smart Savvy until I see him ride shortly.

[Lister Farrar]

Adam Attwell 9th. http://racetiming.ca/results/E1709/JM-TT3000-Q-R.htm

I think that's a PB for him. Will update.

[Lister Farrar]

u17 girls up now. See live link above.

L

[Lister Farrar]

warming up.

[Lister Farrar]

Whew, killer rides by the u17 girls in pursuit qualifying. Sarah first, Casey 6th (new pb by 4.5 seconds), Megan 12th, new pb by 3 seconds and she's a first year u17), and Jess Maitland 15th, and a huge PB by more than 16 seconds.

http://racetiming.ca/results/E1709/U17W-TT2000-Q-R.htm

[Lister Farrar]

In u17 boys, TS's Riley Pickrell was 2nd qualifier and new pb by 5 seconds. Only 6/10s off fastest qualifier. Final later today is going to be spectacular.

First year u17 Aedan Crocker rode very well, more than 7s faster than hes ever gone before.

http://racetiming.ca/results/E1709/U17M-TT2000-Q-R.htm

[Fozzy]

Great reports Lister. Keep em coming!

[John D]

Between standing on podiums and setting "personal bests" the TSC youth riders were prominent in every event in which they participated today, including a new Canadian record set by Riley Pickrell in the Men's U17 Pursuit final! I'll leave it to Lister to provide the blow-by-blow post-race analysis.

If you have some time over the weekend, it's worth tuning in to watch the races live at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHz_BQJaS1M

J.

[EricS]

riley is in the points race right now...live :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfKlfGvMmk0

Edit: just finished. Riley won! Yippie!

[JohnT]

What a great race. Well done Riley.

JT

[AJ Neale]

Congratulations to all of the TSC youth ... incredible performances! Andrew