Keegan Swenson continued his winning ways by taking the top spot in the pro field at the Utah State Championship Series #1 at Lambert Park. At only 17 this year, the 2010 15/16 National Champ is on a roll.
Next stop for Swenson? Europe and the Junior World Cup in Offenburg, Germany on May 28th! Also joining Keegan at the European Race Camp from the Whole Athlete-Specialized Squad will be teammate Max Houtzager.
(April 15-16, 2011, Monterey, CA) The Whole Athlete-Specialized Cycling Team showed its class as a top junior development program once again at the 21st annual Sea Otter Classic, sweeping the podium in the Junior Men’s cross country event. Against a strong 30-rider Cat 1 17/18 field, Keegan Swenson continued his winning ways with his third victory in the ProXCT Series. Swenson was followed by teammates Tony Smith and Max Houtzager, repeating their podium order from Fontana just three weeks prior.
In the Cat 1 15/16 group, Lucas Newcomb landed on the podium as well with a strong 2nd place finish, while on the Junior Women’s side, Kate Courtney (15-16 National Champ) moved up one podium place from last year to 3rd in this year’s event.
Whole Athlete-Specialized Team athletes and coaches alike took to the startline in this year's Sea Otter Classic, netting eight podium placings and 16 top-10 finishes. Check out all the team's top-10 results here.
(April 11, 2011, San Anselmo, CA) The Whole Athlete-Specialized Cycling Team has its sights set on the 2011 Sea Otter Classic with an impressive contingent of young riders. Nine junior boys, five junior girls, and four U23 riders will contest their respective cross-country races.
Standout juniors Keegan Swenson (2010 15/16 National Champion) and Tony Smith (2010 Worlds Team member) will face a strong field as they look to maintain their momentum of consecutive 1-2 finishes in the first two ProXCT rounds at Bonelli Park and Fontana.
Sea Otter will mark the first foray into national-class racing for the junior girls this season, who have focused mainly on High School League racing so far this year. Sofia Hamilton (2010 Worlds Team member) is hoping for one step above her 2nd place finish in last year's 17/18 race, while current 15/16 National Champion Kate Courtney, also a podium finisher last year, hopes to take top honors in this year's event.
On the U23 side, neo-pro Zach Valdez is coming off a strong start to the spring, including two 2nd place finishes in the Kenda Cup Series and 10th in the Bonelli Park ProXCT short track. Valdez and his U23 teammates will face the country's top professional racers in this third stop of the ProXCT Series.
Whole Athlete-Specialized Sea Otter MTB XC Roster
Junior Boys 17/18: Max Houtzager, Sven Beer, Taylor Smith, Keegan Swenson, Eliel Anttila, Bobby Zidek, Tony Smith
Junior Boys 15/16: Jonny Kaufman, Lucas Newcomb
Junior Girls: (Abbie Durkee, coach) Josie Nordrum, Mackinzie Stanley, Sofia Hamilton, Kate Courtney, Victoria Yoham, (Julia Violich, coach)
U23 Men: Riley Predum, Will Patterson, Zach Valdez, Will Curtis
