Carson Beckett (above left) and Ryan Johnson put together big performances for the BC cycling team in its season opener. Beckett took first place in the Men’s A Cross Country and Short Track Cross Country event, while Johnson took third in the Men’s A Short Track event. (Courtesy photo)
The Brevard College cycling team opened its 2019-20 mountain Biking season with a resounding flurry of podium finishes at the Ramblin Race Weekend hosted by Georgia Tech University on Saturday and Sunday at the Ridgeway Recreation Area in Ellijay, Ga.
Senior Carson Beckett won two events to lead the charge for the Tornados.
On Saturday, Beckett outlasted a competitive field in Men’s A Cross Country to cross the finish line for his first victory of the weekend. Less than 24 hours later, Beckett won again with an impressive victory in the Men’s A Short Track Cross Country.
Also on Saturday, freshman Tyler Miranda delivered a standout performance in his collegiate debut with a fifth-place finish in Men’s A Cross Country. Additionally, sophomore Jason Marquardt placed fifth in Men’s C Cross Country.
Sunday’s action saw sophomore Ryan Johnson finish third to join Beckett on the Men’s A Short Track Cross County podium.
Brevard College riders Nathan St. Clair (third Place, Men’s B) and Lucas Pound (second Place, Men’s C) also earned podium finishes in Short Track Cross Country.
Senior Hannah Arensman earned two podium finishes beginning with a third place result in Saturday’s Women’s A Cross Country race. Arensman bettered her Saturday result with a second – place finish on Sunday in Women’s A Short Track Cross Country.
Freshman Emma Schwab joined Arensman on Sunday’s podium to collect her first career collegiate podium with a third place finish in Women’s A Short Track Cross Country. Schwab placed sixth on Saturday in the Women’s A Cross Country.
As a unit, four BC riders earned top-tens in Women’s A Short Track with sophomore Hannah Dickson (seventh place) and junior Nicole Rusden (eighth place) joining Arensman and Schwab on the final leaderboard.
In total, Brevard College cyclists collected eight podium finishes, including two race victories in the season-opening weekend.
The Tornados return to action this Saturday and Sunday at the Volunteer MTB Weekend hosted by the University of Tennessee at the Windrock Bike Park in Oliver Springs, Tenn.
