Crowell Doubles Up At Collegiate Nationals

Team Type 1's Jacquelyn Crowell, riding for the University of Florida, claimed two medals during this past weekend's Collegiate Nationals, taking third in Friday's Road Race and second during Saturday's Criterium

Fort Collins, Colo. – Team Type 1’s Jacquelyn Crowell added to her medal collection Saturday at the USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships with a runner-up finish for the University of Florida in the Division I criterium.

Crowell was the first rider through the final corner but was passed a few feet from the line by Sinead Miller (Marian College). Tammy Wildgoose (University of California-San Diego) finished third.

Crowell said she it was her strategy to lead out the sprint, unaware that Miller – a multi-time national collegiate and junior national track champion – was on her wheel.

“I’m obviously disappointed but I knew I had to go early,” she said, “I did hear something today that made me feel a little better. Dave Towle (the race announcer) was saying you can’t win if you don’t risk losing. That’s a good way to put it.”

Crowell never ventured far from the front during the hour-long race along a 0.9-mile, figure-eight course. She also won a pair of point prime sprints, which helped her finish second in the omnium competition to Carla Swart (Lees-McRae College).

“I think I rode the best race I could today,” she said. “Eventually, I’m going to win one of these times.”


On Friday, Crowell of Team Type 1 rode to a bronze medal finish at the USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships.

Crowell attacked Melanie Meyers (University of Arizona) in the final 800 meters to cross the line alone, 26 seconds behind race winner Carla Swart (Lees-McRae College). Swart out-sprinted Anna McLoon (Harvard) at the end of the 51-mile (82 km) Division I women's race that was run in wind-swept conditions near Fort Collins, Colo.

“”It was like a hurricane out there,” Crowell said. “The high level of competition and conditions made my race much more of a defensive one.”

The Team Type 1 racer was one of nine riders who made the decisive early break on a challenging course that included several climbs through Horsetooth Reservoir. As the group made its way back toward the finish at Colorado State University’s Hughes Stadium, Swart attacked on one of the final leg-breaking ascents that included a stretch of 15 percent grade.

“When she went, I just couldn’t go with her,” Crowell said of Swart’s attack.