Monday, March 19, 2012

Whole Athlete-Specialized Juniors Score Again in NorCal High School Race #2

Cold and rainy conditions could not dampen the spirits of the Whole Athlete Juniors at round two of the NorCal High School League Series in Monterey, CA. Following consecutive wins at the Mellow Johnny's and Bonelli Park XCTs, Kate Courtney took her third victory in three weeks, winning the Varsity Girls race. Following Kate's lead, Sarah Ogden also won the Junior Varsity Girls race, while the Junior Varsity Boys swept the top-four places for their third race in a row with Ben Spurr, Marcus Segedin, Sean Bennett, and Silas Blunk.

Sean Bennett, Marcus segedin, Ben Spurr, Silas Blunk
Ben Spurr leads Sean Bennett and Marcus Segedin in the Junior Varsity race.

Josie Nordrum and Mackinzie Stanley also finished strongly on the Varsity Girls podium in 3rd and 4th, and in the Varsity Boys race Jacob Albrecht, Miles Lim and Lucas Newcomb all landed in the top-10, taking 5th, 6th and 9th. Three wins and nine podium appearances marked the riders' results for the day.

kate courtney
An elated Kate Courtney takes her third win in three weeks. 

Specialized
Conditions were none too kind to riders' equipment. 

Check out all the team's top-10 results of 2012.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Another Podium Sweep for Whole Athlete-Specialized Juniors!

This time it was the 15/16 Juniors at the Bonelli Park ProXCT sweeping the top-four cross country podium spots with Sean Bennett, Marcus Segedin, Ben Spurr, and Silas Blunk. Kate Courtney went two for two, winning the Junior Women's event, while Shane Skelton took a strong 2nd place in a national-class XC Junior 17/18 field.

The team earned a total of seven wins and 11 podium appearances over the weekend. 

Sean Bennett, Marcus segedin, Ben Spurr, Silas Blunk
Whole Athlete-Specialized riders go 1-2-3-4 with Sean Bennett, Marcus Segedin, Ben Spurr, and Silas Blunk. 
 
kate courtney
Kate Courtney takes her second consecutive ProXCT Junior win.

On Day 2 in the Short Track race, Shane Skelton took the win in the combined Cat 1 event, as Zach Valdez earned his biggest result to date with 3rd place in a highly competitive Pro field. 

Zach Valdez, ProXCT podium
In only his second year as a pro, Zach Valdez hits the podium in a ProXCT!
 
Shane Skelton
Shane Skelton on his way to victory in STXC.

Adding to the team's successful results tally, Mackinzie Stanley, Victoria Yoham and Julia Violich each won their respective Cat 1 Super-D races, while Sarah Ogden took the win in her first Cat 2 cross country. 

Zach Valdez
No time to look around for Mackinzie Stanley as she rides to victory in the Super-D.

Zach Valdez
Zach Valdez on target.

Kate Courtney
Kate Courtney climbs alone.

casey williams, jacob albrecht
Casey Williams and Jacob Albrecht in the 17/18 Junior race.

Check out all the team's top-10 results of 2012.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Whole Athlete-Specialized Juniors Sweep in Texas

The Mellow Johnny's Classic in Dripping Springs, Texas marks the first stop of the ProXCT national race series, and Whole Athlete-Specialized riders came ready to ride. Casey Williams, Lucas Newcomb and Shane Skelton swept the top three steps of the Junior men's podium, while Kate Courtney won the Junior women's race.

Casey Williams, Lucas Newcomb, Shane Skelton
Whole Athlete-Specialized riders go 1-2-3 with Casey Williams, Lucas Newcomb and Shane Skelton.
 
Kate Courtney
Kate Courtney takes her first win as a 17/18 Junior.

Casey took charge of the race on the first lap, flowing through the highly technical, rocky course with smoothness and speed. 

Casey Williams 
Casy Williams on his breakout ride.
 
Kate Courtney
Even a broken rear rim could not keep Kate from taking top honors on this day.
 
Shane Skelton
Shane rode a super-consistent race to complete the Whole Athlete sweep.

Lucas Newcomb
Lucas riding strongly in his first 17/18 Junior race.

First stop on the ProXCT.


The rocky course took its toll on wheels.

Shane and Casey warm up.

Tremendous team support. Thank you, Specialized!