July 2, 2010

From Barret Kropf, Sask Cycling Association President on location in Devon:

Friday was an exciting day for Team Sask at the National Championships in Devon Alberta (41 km south west of Edmonton).

With a target on her back as the defending Individual Time Trial (ITT) Champion for the junior age group, Julia Garnett from Saskatoon was able to match her accomplishments from the year previous, with another ITT victory in 2010. There were challengers nipping at her heels, even at the half way point of the race as she trailed at that point by an announced 4 seconds. However, heading back to the finish line with a slight head wind, Julia continued to show the marks of a champion by closing the gap, and expanding on it in the final 10km. In the end, she stood atop the podium, arms clenching yet another gold medal at the national stage for Saskatchewan.

In the Under 15 ITT event, 13 year old Joshua Kropf from Moose Jaw was the third rider out of the start gate, and hammered hard over their 8km course, catching the 2 'minute men' ahead of him, and staking his claim as one of the top up and coming cyclists, winning the national event by the slightest of margins. 1.8 seconds.. Josh ends of being the second Team Sask athlete to stand on top of the podium today, a great accomplishment for the racers and the High Performance program in Sask.

In the Under 17 ITT race, Jalen Kropf was an 8th place finisher in his first appearance at nationals, only an eye blinking 0.6 seconds out of 7th.

Junior Women National Individual Time Trial = 22.5 km
1 Julia GARNET Team Saskatchewan 0:35:40.5
2 Annie EWART Cycling BC 0:35:46.2
3 Allison BEVERIDGE Team Alberta 0:36:10.7

Under 15 National Individual Time Trial - 8 km
1 Joshua KROPF Team Saskatchewan 0:12:28.1
2 Sam RATZKE CMC/Bow Cycle 0:12:29.9
3 Lukas ADOMONIS Juventus 0:13:41.7