Late Night Under the Lights - July 25

Late Night Under the Lights:

Champions All by Chad Blankenship

There was warm glow glistening from the street lights. Sweltering heat rose from the pavement. The scene at Warren Middle School was electric with anticipation. A brave group of riders ranging from one to twelve would not be deterred. Straddling their bikes, helmets in hand, sipping water from bottles donated by Santa Fe Trails Bicycle Shop, the energy coursed through the air. The turn out was outstanding with fifty-seven children ready to conquer like riders attacking the final stage of the Tour de France. Then the moment came and they were off.

Each child pumped their pedals with determination as they rounded through the course. These kids battled the heat and persevered. Every child was a champion in their own right and we would like to recognize the top three riders in each category.

Kids Race

Ages: 1-5	Ages: 9-10
1. William Roso	1. Harry Ross
2. Jose Denny	2. Abby Olsen
3. Spencer Black	3. Andrew Kohl
Ages: 6-8	Ages: 11-12
1. Michael Bert	1. Liam Hackler
2. Eli Todd	2. Elizabeth Bert
3. Alec Gonzalez	3. John Finnegan

Not to be out done, an eager group of adults readied themselves to tackle the course with vigor. There were three categories and every rider attacked as if their lives depended on it. The competitive nature oozed from their pores and the sweat dripped onto their handle bars. We would like to note that this was the first race for Sonny Hatton and Michael Donegan. Additionally, David French is new to the Juniors (Cat 4) category. Congratulations to each of these riders.

Adult Race

Adults C: Cat 5

1. Jason Hodge

2. Sonny Hatton

3. Michael Donegan

Cat 4

1. Mark Ramsden

2. Sean Smith

Juniors and Ladies D: Cat 4

1. David French

We hope you will join us at the next Late Night Under the Lights event on August 8th. Help us support and teaches our children the thrill, competitive spirit and safety of cycling. Santa Fe Trails Bicycle Shop would like to thank every person who contributed in making this spectacular event happen. In particular, we would like to recognize Roger Harrison, for his time and assistance setting up the course and photographing this exciting event. We hope to see you soon and remember, ride safely.

Sunflower State Games

Great weekend of racing in Topeka for Team Santa Fe Trails!

Friday evening at 6:30 PM we raced an individual Time Trial at Heartland Park Race Track.  This was a challenging course which included multiple turns, hills  and a quarter mile drag strip.  Riders arrived early to preride the course.  We brought a strong team and rode well.  Erica Haas won the women's open with a time of 15:43.  Shawn Morelli was second, just 8 seconds slower despite crashing halfway through the race.  Spencer Wallace was 4th in the men's category fours with a time of 14:55, Shawn Smith was 7th with a time 15:39,  Brendan Sheehan was 8th with a time of 15:43.  Jen Smith was 8th  in the women's category 4s with the time of 19:25.  Sedona Posch Smith was 5th in the juniors with a time of 26:43.


Saturday our team raced the Sunflower State Games Criterium at Forbes Field in Topeka.  The course is flat with no shade and four corners.  The women raced first.  Shawn Morelli worked hard with Erica Haas - they averaged over 22 mph.  Erica took 3rd and Shawn took 4th in the women's open.  Jen Smith was fifth in the women's category fours.  Shawn Smith was 15th in the men's category four race.  Spencer Wallace was 24th in the men's category 4 criterium.  James Lee was 18th in the men's category five race.  Sedona Posch  Smith took fifth in the juniors criterium.  Roger Harrison raced his first race in years - the 60 plus.  Congratulations Roger!



Sunday the women's open road race saw Erica Haas take first, Shawn Morelli take second and Anne Parthmore take third.  Santa Fe Trails Sweep!  Women's open and men's category 4 raced for 47 miles of hilly and challenging roads.  The men's fives and juniors raced 24 miles.    Spencer Wallace finished 6th in the men's category four road race.  Sean Smith finished 19th in the same race.  Jen Smith was 6th in the women's category four race.  Sedona Posch Smith was 2nd!



Thanks to Roger Harrison for taking pictures at all three races. 

State Line Road Race

Saturday was another beautiful race day for Santa Fe Trails Bicycle Racing Team.  We drove to State Line Road in Overland Park, Kansas.  The temperatures were not bad about 73 degrees at the start.  We had a good turnout - one category five racer - James Lee, one women's open racer - Shawn Morelli, one category four racer - Brendan Sheehan, and one junior racer - David French.  We also have a new category four racer who will be joining our team from United Health Care - Anthony Lee. 

The course was 6.5 miles long with four right turns.  James Lee described as a long criterium.  The road was undulating with a long fast down hill followed by a serpentine, a hairpin turn onto a vicious off camber climb.  The turn resulted in numerous crashes and dropped chains.  Everyone on our team survived the melee. 

The men's five rode five laps as did the women's open.  The juniors rode two laps and the men's fours rode seven laps.  Shawn Morelli was second, James Lee was 30th, David French was 7th, Brendan Sheehan was 38th and Anthony Lee was 28th. 

We look forward to our next races this weekend at the Sunflower State Games in Topeka.  Don't forget, these races (this weekend) count towards the Team and individual placing for KBAR. 

state line road race

Late Night Under the Lights, July 11

Great night of racing yesterday at Warren Middle School in Leavenworth.   Temperatures were still high, but not nearly as hot as the last race.  Every child was given a Santa Fe Trails Water bottle. 

We had a record attendance by the children.  What a great field of kids!  Variety.  That's how I would describe them.  Some rode single speed bikes. Some rode mountain bikes.  Some had push bikes with no pedals.  Some had tiny road bikes.  The helmets were even more amazing.  All kids had to have them.  Some wore Combat Vehicle Crewmans helmets.  Some wore football helmets.  Some had daisies painted on them.  No matter what, all the kids came out to race!

The adults had fun too.  Several of them had never raced before so we set the race up to allow them to learn, compete, and have fun.  Racers competed in the Miss and Out, The Win and Out and a Six Lap Scratch Race.

Big thanks to Paula Cole, Barb Sheehan, Roger Harrison, Curtis Waite, and Joe Porter. 

Here are the results:

Elite Category

1.  Mark Ramsden  28  points
2.  Anthony Lee  25 points
3.  Erica Haas 14 points

Category 5

1.  Marc Welde 28 points
2.  Ray Farrens  18 points
3.  Timothy Mckane 7 points
4.  Mike Miller 5 points

Women's 4

1.  Wendy Guilbeau 15 points
2.  Danielle Lansford 12 points
3.  Anita Gonzalez 6 points

Children 11-12

1.  Francis Sheehan
2.  Alyssa Farrens
3.  Riley Brown

Children 9-10

1.  Abby Olsen
2.  Liam Hackler
3.  Andrew Kohl
4.  Carl Waage
5.  Maci Spath

Children 6-8

1.  Eli Todd
2.  Joshua Maxwell
3.  Caden Baragary
4.  Liam Baragary
5.  Aiden Moehring
6.  Stig Bjornas
7.  Mary Cate Brown
8.  Kinsey Swartz
9.  Emma Hackler
10.  Ella Todd
11.  Ben Wangerin
12.  Carolina Bris-Bois
13.  Juan Van Sickle
14.  Abby Bell
15.  Eleanor Brown
16.  Kaelyn Swartz
17.  Sarah Ferrens
18.  Jonah Kiper
19.  Gloria Spath
20.  Mick Kiper
21.  Deonsay McNeill
22.  Ladaisha McNeill

Children 1-5

1.  Josie Denney
2.  Sam Brown
3.  Declan Moehring
4.  Grayson Hatton
5.  Miki Bris-Bois
6.  Landyn Van Sickle
7.  Elijah Kiper
8.  Brajfon Zimmerman
9.  Riley Frederickson
10.  Katie Bell
11.  Andrew Welde
12.  Elijah Perry
13.  Alaina Schwartz
14.  Evelyn Todd

Strider Category

1.  Cale Denney
2.  Lukas Smith
3.  Sandre Bjornas

Tour of Lawrence

What a Hot weekend of racing we had!  Temperatures soared on Saturday as we arrived at the University of Kansas Campus for the Tour of Lawrence Circuit Race.  The course was well staffed.  A 4 mile circuit around the campus which incorporated corkscrew turns and hills that looked like an EKG screen.  We set our tent up on top of the toughest climb.  Fans gathered on the climb and on other spots of the course with super soakers, hoses, and other devices to drench the riders with water.  The cooling effect was welcomed by the riders as pavement temperatures went up to 126 degrees. 

The men's category 5 race was first.  Gene Lamb raced for Santa Fe Trails and took 30th.  The category 5 men raced three laps. 
Spencer Wallace raced the men's 4/5 circuit but was taken out in a crash early in the race. 

Next was the ladies' category 3/4 race.  Erica Haas and Shawn Morelli represented the team well.  The ladies also raced three laps.  Erica and Shawn were in the lead of the field the first time up the climb after about 3.5 miles.  The women's field was literally shattered.  On the next lap Erica was climbing with the two lead women while Shawn was in the small chase group.  The two women held on to place 3rd and 6th respectively.  Phenomenal race!

Spencer Wallace sought out a new bike from the neutral support vehicle.  He lined up for the category 4 - 5 lap race with a different bicycle and a torn jersey!  Amazing!  Places were 15 deep with cash payouts.  The race started super fast.  Spencer finished 41 and Brendan finished 49th. 

Sunday's criterium was in downtown Lawrence.  The race went straight down Massachusetts  street.  The course was flat and super fast with wide turns.  Spencer Wallace took 51st in the men's category 4s.  Shawn Morelli took 14th in the ladies' category 3. 

Thanks to Roger Harrison who withstood the hot temperatures to cheer us all on for both days.