National No.1 titles for 2013 heat up with Questions

Filed under General on November 22, 2013 | Comment(s)

The National No.1 title chases are always exciting - and this year, for the first time in our memory, we have some "questionable" conditions with many of our points leaders in both the Amateur and Cruiser categories. Both No.1 seeded Amateur Lain VanOgle and  No.1 seeded Cruiser rider Shan Hatfield remain iffy on whether they'll be able to race The Grands and go for the title.

NO.1 AMATEUR: With a extrmely high score of over 1,700 points, Phoenix's Lain VanOgle has led the Am standings since April. Past history has shown that any rider with a score over 1700 has usually won the No.1 Cup. But this summer, while practicing in SoCal, Lain was injured in a practice session and his return in time for Tulsa is still questionable. He'll be there, but won't make the decision on whether or not to race until Thursday or pratice. 
Normally, that would lead right to the No.2 rider in points standings, as your next great hope. That person is Utah's Robby Patterson (Extreme team), who had decided to train and practice in the warm climate of Arizona prior to the Grands. But while practicing out at Chandler BMX, and pushing his limits, Patterson bailed hard and is said to be sipping breakfast, lunch and dinner thru a straw. Robby still plans to racing - and if he wins the title, it'll definitely be an interesting speech.  

NO.1 CRUISER: Georgia's Shan Hatfield (GT Bicylces) is our current No.1 points leader in the 24" wheeled category, but he too, is on the mend.  Shan went to New Zealand for the UCi World Championships - and instead of returning to the States with rainbow sleeves, he landed back in Georgia with a crazy looking cast on his right wrist. While Shan expects to race, the question is - will he be at 100%? 
Next up in the contender field  

NO.1 GIRL: For the first time ever in BMX history - USA BMX has a brother/sister combo leading two of the eight categories. With her older brother Lain being in the top-slot of Amateur standings, sister Kelsey is no stranger to being seeded in the No.1 spot of points. She already has two big silver National No.1 Cups on her mantle back home in Federal Way, Washington - for the 2010 and 2012 Girl Cruiser championships. But this is the first year that Kelsey has been in contention for the 20-inch wheeled Girls title.

It'll be no easy task for her, though - as her toughest competition is right on her heels. Canada's  Drew Michielsen (Yess) and Missouri's Jamie Windholz (S-squared) have shared the top spot of the posium with VanOgle, and the No.1 title could go to any of them. 

NO.1 GIRL CRUISER: Due to the equal sizes for most of their age classes, the Girls Cruiser battles are always close and the No.1 title seems to always come to who can handle the Grands pressure and win the final. This year, Leyna Jones is tied with Lexis Colby for the No.1 spot in points. Both of them compete in the same 11-12 year old class, and they'll have 5th-seeded Jaycie Sinclair to deal with. In the 3, 4 and 7th slots of points are the 13-14 year old contenders Anna Johnson, Abagayle MacLeod and Olivia Armstrong. Chances are good that this year's champ will come from one of those two divisions.

 ...but this IS The Grands we're talking about - and anything can, and usually will, happen. That is all a part of what makes it the Greatest Race on Earth!