Schweizer's Cyclocross Race Results
Canby Park West, Wilmington, Delaware
Sunday, October 18, 1998

Thanks to Andrew Albright

At 80 degrees, the weather may not have been cross weather, but the sun shone brightly on a top-notch cross field, most of whom had tasted the first big race of the season at Saturday's Philly Super Cup. The course was a little of that, a little of this, but mostly nice grassy turns and hills. It squeezed out a lead group, after the first couple of laps, which consisted of Dale Knapp (Control Tech/Kona), Tim Johnson (CCB Volkswagon), Bill Hurley (Oryx), Peter Webber (Gary Fischer), and Johannes Huseby (Independent Fabrications). Adam Myerson and Loren Hanson, having engaged in a first lap tango were chasing back to regain this lead group. The cream of the local cross crop; Dave Weaver (Gary Fischer), Greg Ferguson (Trek VW), and Bill Elliston (Bicycle Therapy) were slightly back in a well formed second group.

The constant accelerations and fast pace whittled the lead group down to just three; Johnson, Knapp, and Hurley. The twisty, fast course lead to some great tight battles among these three, especially at the crowd pleasing, bunny-hop optional barrier into a short hill, which was followed by a nice little off-camber S turn. With 2 laps to go, Dale Knapp throttled his way away from Johnson and Hurley, to win by 45 seconds. Johnson, demonstrating the same composure that he showed yesterday during the Philly race when he brought back a late-lap surge by Saturn's Bart Bowen, pulled away to take second place over Hurley.  Pete Webber gained on these two some, but not enough to connect; he finished fourth. Loren Hanson, threading his way through the field, ended up 5th.

Adam Myerson and Johannes Huseby (the only two collegiate national cyclocross champions ever) battled it out over the last couple of laps, with Myerson just holding off a hard-charging Huseby. Cross sprint are very cool. 8th was Kris Auer and local riders got the 9th through 11th places; Dave Weaver, Greg Ferguson, and Bill Elliston.

Another great sprint finish was seen at the finale of the Masters race. Paul Curley and Scott Wade ran neck and neck for the entire race. At the end, Curley used textbook form to shut down Wade in the sprint.  Stuart Thorne (Essex) was 3rd. Local riders Bernie Shiao (Bike Doctor) and Randall Root (Snow Valley) were 4th and 5th respectively. John Gaardner of the hosting First State Velo Sport team, relaxed from setting up the course and marshalling, to get 7th.

In the Women's race, Emily Thorne (Essex) beat Jenn Dial (IF). Local riders Megan Clark (Bike Doctor) and Laurel Graves (U Penn) were 3rd and 4th. The Junior race was won by Szymon Niemotke.

Many thanks to Schweizer's Physical Therapy and Christiana Care for their sponsorship of a generous purse.

And lastly, many thanks to all the cool people who donated the last 80 degree day of the year to help set-up the course, run registration, marshall, and spectate.

Full Results

Men's A

1. Dale Knapp (Control Tech/Kona) 61:36

2.Tim Johnson (CCB Volkswagon) 62:16

3. Bill Hurley (Oryx) 62:26

4. Peter Webber (Gary Fischer) 63:08

5. Loren Hanson (Control Tech/Kona) 63:42

6. Adam Myerson (NECSA/VOMax) 65:03

7. Johannes Huseby (Independent Fabrications) 65:04

8. Kris Auer (Peerless/Ted Wojcik) 65:55

9. David Weaver (Gary Fischer) 66:13

10. Greg Ferguson (Trek VW) 66:33

11. Bill Elliston (Bicycle Therapy) 67:08

12. Mark Vandermolen (Turin) 67:24

13. Ken Helgenson (Independent Fabr.) 67:41

14. Rob Boyd (Trek VW)

15. Rob Hacker

16. Dave Hawxhurst (Snow Valley)

17. Michael Davis (Bike Doctor)

18. Matt Myers (Bike Sport)

19. Edward Sternby (Cycle Sports)

20. Michael Birner (Snow Valley)

21. Scott Gibbons (Snow Valley)

22. John Lynch (Snow Valley)

23. Mark Walchinsky (East Coast Velo)

DNS Corey Hilliard (Yum-Yum Weightlifters)

Masters 35+

1. Paul Curley (Team Gearworks) 52:38

2. Scott Wade (Team Gearworks) 52:38

3. Stuart Thorne (Essex County Velo) 55:23

4. Bernie Shiao (Bike Doctor) 56:45

5. Randall Root (Snow Valley) 57:25

6. Gene Katapski (Lackawanna Cycle Club)

7. John Gaardner (FSVS)

8. Scott Wilson (Evolution Racing)

9. Doug Squires (Team Delaware)

10. John Sarmousakis (Team Delaware)

11. Gary Morgans

12. Marshall Sacks (Red Rose Rockets)

Women

1. Emily Thorne (Essex County Velo) 52:17

2. Jennifer Dial (Independent Fabrications) 52:53

3. Megan Clark (Bike Doctor)

4. Laurel Graves (U. Penn)

5. Tammy Ebersole (Evolution)

6. Jeanette Rengers (Wooden Wheels)

7. Diane Crampton (Wooden Wheels)

Men's B

1. John Frey 35:32

2. Brent Biddle (FSVS) 35:37

3. Marc Velton 37:21

4. John Hosteller 37:39

5. Garner Woodall 38:10

6. Jason Cimini 38:15

7. Thomas Gillespie 38:37

8. Ron Hermann 39:19

9. Theodore McDaniel 39:34

10. Todd Chewning 40:38

Juniors

1. Szymon Niemotko 50:92

2. Dane Silvestri