First day of Track Nats 2023 in Rock Hill, SC.
Sprinters accounted for…and we don’t suck
Gwen Afton,Sue Meinerz, Diane Percy
Barry Lindler, Robby Mann, Mark Pelletier, Dean Todd, Rich Voss
The Flying 200m qualifiers early in the morning, all sprinters made the game and the day was on.
The Hammer Women punched through the entire day, worked hard, rested well and brought in the hardware.
Diane Percy – Gold Medal – National Sprint Champion.
Sue Meinerz – Silver
Gwen Afton – Bronze
The Hammer men bolted and played best the could.
Barry Lindler was in the largest lineup for his age group 55-59. The beastiest of beasts play in that age group. Single elimination was the first round. Barry battled well, but his day was shortened.
Robby Mann, Mark Pelletier and Dean Todd were in a hefty competitive age group (60 – 64) Robby and Mark made new friends from other teams, played well with others in the 2 out of 3 realm, and later in the evening were locked in the four up game which is really a 750m sprint. It was civilized Mark led it out, Robby took over smelled the 5th place bronze, and made like a mack truck and lead the civilized line up until the last turn 3 of the event. The well rested in the draft, 2 of the other sprinters came round, and the legs were not there for Robby.
Dean Todd, battled upward and onward, and was in some very exciting and heated rounds and eventually popped out as the 2023 National Sprint Champion in the 60-64 age group.
Rich Voss started the day with not feeling too well, just wanting to place well in the F200, make the first round. That happy place continued into the evening and into the final round of the 65-69 age group. Busting 2nd place and earning the Silver and 2nd step of the podium.
Hammer Current Medal Count
5 medals
2 National Champion Jerseysrobby.
Gold (2) and Stars and Stripes jersey – Diane Percy, Dean Todd
Silver (2) Sue Meinerz and Rich Voss
Bronze (1) Gwen Afton
-robby-
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Another beautiful and humid day in Rock Hill. Although today the breeze was almost non existent in the Velodrome.
The Hammer booty for day 2
Gail Matherly – Individual Pursuit – National Champion Jersey and Gold Medal
Sue Meinerz – Individual Pursuit – 2nd step and Silver Medal
Shannon Fox – Individual Pursuit – 4th place Bronze
Robby Mann – Individual Pursuit, -Points towards BAT – Didn’t come in last.
Someone else had a DQ because of two false starts.
Hammer Racing Team medals after Day 2
8 Medals
Gold 3 – Diane, Dean, Gail – And National Champs!
Silver 3 – Sue (2) Rich
Bronze 2 – Gwen, Shannon
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It really is a wild ride this year.
Day 3 started out late, as it rained as predicted, and it was predicted to start late by the officials at the end of Day 2.
So, most of us slept comfortably. Not worrying about the 7am load in.
it was an 11am load in. Somehow that just seems more appropriate.
The track dried and the temperature and humidity in Rock Hill, South Carolina CRANKED UP!!!
But so did Hammer Racing Team.
Day 3 was Individual Time Trial day. ITT.
all were in the 500m distance, so starting fast, cranking fast, racing fast was it.
False starts were abundant, but not for Hammer racers.
Diane Percy, Gail Matherly, Sue Meinerz, Gwen Afton
Rich Gangl, Rich Voss, Barry Lindler, Robby Mann, Dean Todd, Mike Dancel, Mark Pelletier, Ray Gildea.
Medal winners went this way.
Diane Percy – Gold – 2023 National Champion
Gail Matherly – Gold – 2023 National Champion
Gwen Afton – Silver
Sue Minerz —Silver
Ray Gildea – Gold – 2023 National Champion
Dean Todd – Gold – 2023 National Champion
Rich Voss – Bronze
Mike Dancel – Bronze
That is some Major take for the day!!!
And with everyone else just blasting the best possible at this concrete 250m track in the wind and the heat and humidity.
Hammer Racing Team is also commanding a lead in the BAT competition.
(Best All Around Team)
current standings as of this evening 8/10/2023
Hammer Racing Team – 467
IAmICanIWillIDoRacing – 269
Performance Cycle Coaching – 239
BriHop Racing – 209
Edge Cycling – 170
Tomorrow is the last day of the individual competitions, and that’s all that counts towards BAT. Team events like Team Pursuit and Team Sprint are not included for points. It’s going to be close, and we’ve a crew doing the Mass Events tomorrow. Good luck and great speed to those racing those events. Everyone else, stay tuned for tomorrows report.
So Holy Moly – Here’s the current medal count for Hammer Racing Team at Masters Track Cycling Nationals 2023.
Gold – 7
Silver – 5
Bronze – 4
Big thanks goes out to Boulder Valley Velodrome and Team Colorado and Todd Stevenson for loaning out a tent to keep us shaded and an A-Frame to hang the bikes.
Big thanks as well to all those invested and involved that brought that beauty of a 250m board velodrome up and running and getting our time on the 250m. Muchos Gracias!!!
Another thanks to the Olympic Training Center, and Robert Mayfield.
Pat McDonnough for getting us time on the OTC track.
Robert Mayfield for bringing community racing at the OTC back to life.
Track Racing in Colorado and the Mountain West was becoming horribly non-existent and to the point of death of an elegant and precision discipline of bicycle racing. There’s a core of passionate people that we express our gratitude.
To our sponsors we display on our race kits –
we strive to do well and appreciate your support.
Thorne Supplements
Adventure Cycles
Gravity Brewing
Paul’s Coffee and Tea
The Feed
Veloflyer Bicycles
Velobike.nz
The Turtle Effect
Gangl Custom Cycles
Voss On Track
somehow we got these cats herded and in one place to preserve the moment in a picture.
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Hey Hey Hey Hammer Racing Team and Sponsors – Day 4
All Hammer Racing Team members that entered today, have scored in the medals.
The Morning Session
The Mass Start events Hammer earns another Stars and Stripes.
This time in the Form of
Shannon Fox – Gold Medal and 2023 Scratch Race National Champion
Silver Medals continued to stack.
Diane Percy – Silver Medal in the Scratch Race
Sue Minerz – another one of the Hammer Racing Team not intending to race, threw down an raced – and BOOM like that! A Silver Medal in the Scratch Race.
The Afternoon session
Shannon Fox – Silver Medal – Points Race
Sue Meinerz – Silver Medal – Points Race
Diane Percy Silver Medal – Points Race
Hammer Medal Count is now at –
Gold – 8
Silver – 10
Bronze – 4
We do have one BabyMaster at the top end – Mike Dancel who will be working the Sprint Tournament tomorrow –
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Track Nats 2023 was very successful, very competitive and very FUN!
Day 5 –
Our only Baby Master? We need more Baby Masters….
Mike Dancel – Silver Medal – Match Sprint.
And when the individual events were all tallied up
Hammer Racing Team wins the “Best All Around Team for 2023”
Day 6 – Team Events
Full on Hammer Teams – and mixed teams.
Here is the Hammer Racing Team individuals that participated-
Listing Hammer Team members. (non-hammer team members)
Morning Session – Team Pursuits
Team “Dynates Gynaikes”
Diane Percy – Team Pursuit Gold
Gail Matherly – Team Pursuit Gold
(Kim Pettit, Cristine D’Ercole)
Team “What’s Left”
Shannon Fox – Gold
(Dave Stanton, Ed Kissee, Kent Bostikck)
Afternoon Session – Team Sprints
Team “Hammer Gals”
Gwen Afton – Gold
Dian Percy – Gold
Gail Matherly – Gold
Team “Full Throttle”
Ray Gildia – Gold
Rich Voss – Gold
(Ed Kissee)
Team “2 Hammers and a Nail”
Shannon Fox – Bronze
Barry Lindler – Bronze
(Steve Vela)
Team “Wong Train”
Dean Todd – Gold
(Will Wong, Joel Bertet)
Final Hammer Medal Count
Gold – 17
Silver – 11
Bronze – 6
Diane Percy – Best All Around Rider
And
“Best All Around Team”
Hammer Racing Team
You know that this 2nd place team will bring more next year!
Bicycle Racing with Strength, Power, Speed and Style 