Frazier Cycling’s Juniors National Race Team competed in the USA Cycling 2010 Junior Road National Championships held in Bend, Oregon June 22nd through June 27th. The 15 member National Team had their most successful showing in five years of national competition, acquiring seven medals, including two National Championships and many additional top 20 finishes.
National medal winners Dominique Shore, James Todd, Philip O’Donnell and Zoe Frazier
James Todd, 12, a resident of Norcross, won his first medal, fifth place, in the Men’s 10-12 criterium. His medal followed a disappointing opening day in the road race, typically his best event. After only two kilometers of the 20-km road race, there was a pile up at the front. James was able to avoid the crash but his derailleur was damaged when struck by another racer. He continued for one lap around the main circuit, trailing the field before his coach advised him to withdraw. It was a real setback for the team and James, as this was the first race of the 2010 Championships. James kept a positive attitude and was able to work with his parents and a local bike shop to get his bike repaired quickly in order to compete in the next day’s criterium. James had a phenomenal criterium race. He stayed with the fast paced leaders throughout the race and achieved the hard fought fifth place medal by holding off one of the top favorites by one tenth of a second. The Men’s 10-12 criterium was also Frazier Cycling’s best showing at this year’s nationals with all four age group competitors placing in the top 16: Teja Gummadi of Suwanee was 9th, Adi Gummadi was 11th , and Rishi Mocherla of Alpharetta was 16th.
Philip O’Donnell, 14, a Suwanee resident, was able to bring home two “Stars and Stripes Jerseys” with dominating national championship wins in the Men’s 13/14 40-km road race and Men’s 13/14 criterium. Philip also placed second in the Men’s 13/14 time trial. In the Men’s road race, Philip made the winning break with two other racers about half way through the seven lap race. The three racers built their lead to about 90 seconds before the final stretch. Philip dropped his foes in the final sprint for his first national championship this year.
The Men’s 13/14 criterium proved to be the most exciting race of this year’s nationals. Philip shot to the first turn quickly opening a gap on the field. Only Daniel Parks, GS Tenzing, was able to join him. The field did not see Philip and Daniel again until late in the race when the two lapped them. Only four chasers were not lapped; however, Philip and Daniel pulled the field to within eight seconds of the chasers. In the final turn, there was a crash which Philip skillfully avoided. Daniel Parks was not so fortunate – he fell and damaged his bike. Not realizing that Daniel had crashed, Philip accelerated toward the finish line and once again dropped the field to win his second consecutive race and national title. Note: Daniel was able to run the final 250 meters with his broken bike to cross the finish line and salvage the silver medal just ten seconds ahead of the sprinting chase group.
Dominique Shore, 14, a Suwanee resident, placed fifth in both the Women’s 13/14 road race and criterium. Additionally, Dominique was ninth in the Women’s 13/14 time trial. She was the team’s most aggressive female rider. In the road race and the criterium, Dominique lead the chasers in what proved to be futile attempts to bring back the solo champion. Deservedly, Dominique earned national medals for her efforts.
Zoe Frazier, 15, a resident of Suwanee, experienced disappointments in the road race finishing 8th after being forced wide into the gravel on the final turn. In the Women’s 15/16 criterium, Zoe wasn’t feeling well and fell off the pace early in the race. After a few laps, her coaches made the decision to pull her out. It was the only second time she had to abandon race in her career. Zoe was able to come off of these setbacks with a bronze medal in her final event, the 24km Time Trial. She was the top 15-year-old finisher and missed winning her third national title by a scant 13 seconds. Zoe remains the team’s all-time national medal winner with a total of 10 dating back to 2006.
Other noteworthy Frazier Cycling National Team finishers include the following:
Abigail Aldridge, 13, placed 6th in the Women’s 13/14 criterium, 7th in the time trial, and 9th in the road race.
Ally Beach, 16, competed in her first national championship event. Her top performance was the Women’s 15/16 time trial where she placed a very impressive 7th. She was 11th in the road race and 13th in the criterium.
Stephanie Cucaz, 17 competed in her first national championship event. She finished a very impressive tenth in the Women’s 17/18 criterium. She also placed 14th in the time trial and 15th in the road race.
Additional Frazier Cycling National Team members included David Goodman (Suwanee), Andrew Hodges (Suwanee), Andrew Macrae (Decatur), Russell Tindol (Buford) and Sam Tomaka (Atlanta).
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