Young juniors get the spotlight

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On Friday afternoon, the younger juniors got their chance in the spotlight with cross country races held for riders 14 and under. They competed over varying distances and loops, depending on age and gender.

Spence Peterson (Above Category Racing) of Mill Valley, California, won the junior men's 13-14 race ahead of Jansen Lindner (Cycle Youth Devo / Kenda) and Hayes Ward (Onion River Sports).

"It was rough - fast at the beginning and then slow up top. It was dusty and rocky, too," said Peterson, who had plenty of time to practice riding the course. "I've been on the course since Tuesday night. I also took the chairlift up and rode down the descent to get a better feel for it."

Peterson took over the lead on the singletrack portion of the climb on the first lap. "Second place was just 10 seconds behind me at the top of the climb on the first lap, but I guess I was faster on the descent." Peterson held onto his lead, riding strongly to a win.

In the junior women's 13-14 race, Kaylee Blevins (Durango Devo) won ahead of Myia Wood and Taylor Fogg (Front Rangers).

"I was at the front from the start," said Blevins. "It was hard. I felt bad at the beginning on the uphill, but then once it started levelling out, I found my groove and started going."

Trevor Baldwin (Hill Country Bicycle Works) led the junior men 11-12 into the finish for a win.

"Coming down Patriot (the descent - ed.), it was really dusty," said Baldwin. "I was fourth at the start and didn't know what I was going to do, but then I caught my competition up high in the singletrack." Baldwin finished second at nationals in Mount Snow two years ago, but this was his first win at a national championship.

Christopher Blevins finished second behind Baldwin, and Ben Hogan (Boulder Junior Cycling) was third.

Younger brother Nathan Baldwin (Hill Country Bicycle Works) won the junior men's 10 & under race ahead of Cole Avery and Ross Ellwood.

Ksenia Lepikhina was crowned national champion in the junior women's 11-12 race while Haily Swirbul was second, and Nadina Junuzovic (Austin PARD) finished third.

Among the youngest women aged 10 & under, Lillian Frasier (Hill Country Bicycle Works) was the fastest for the win.

"It was really hard starting in the middle of that hill," said Frasier. "I had a really good race and passed people."

Courtney Comer (Acqua AL 2 / San Diego Bicycle Club) finished second behind Frasier. Mary Allen, also riding for Hill Country Bicycle Works, was third.