CMU Mavericks competed in collegiate mountain bike nationals

Grand Junction, CO – The CMU Mavericks competed at the Collegiate Mountain Bike Nationals in October 2018. The team placed second overall tallying a medal count of 14 acquiring four national championships on the season.

"Overall, this is one of our most successful MTB nationals in years," said Patrick Rostel, head coach of CMU cycling. "Our team continues to show CMU is a national destination for mountain biking because of CMU's premier program and western Colorado's access to world-class routes and rides."

The competition began with endurance races at Marshal Mountain. Liam Earl completed the event with a phenomenal ride in the cross country race finishing fourth place. Kahlo Chitraroff finished tenth with Maverick Trevor McCutcheon in eleventh place.

The women’s team was led by Gwendalyn Gibson who won the first national title and her first collegiate national championship. She outsprinted Fort Lewis rival Savilia Blunk for the title. Natalia Franco finished seventh.

In the short track competition Liam Earl also finished seventh.

Gravity Races:

The gravity events resulted in all Mavericks qualifying for final competition. Cameron Joye was unbeatable winning the gold medal against teammate Collin Hudson. Joye secured a second national championship during the competition. Quinten Kurtz edged out Lindsey Wilson for the bronze medal.

In the women's gravity race Alexis Vitale finished 13^th place followed by Sarah Smith in 18^th.

The men's gravity team qualified with all riders in the top eight. Top female qualifier was Gwendalyn Gibson in sixth place followed by Alexis Vitale in 11th.

Maverick Trevor McCutcheon won the downhill competition. He edged out teammate Andras Simon who was in second place. The men’s gravity team won eight out of ten medals.

In the women’s final, Sarah Smith had the fastest time for the Mavericks finishing eighth followed by Alexis Vitale in tenth place.

After winning the downhill competition, Trevor McCutcheon was crowned the Individual Omnium national champion.

Concluding the weekend the Mavericks finished fourth place in the team relay which secured second overall in the team omnium.