Grand Junction, CO – The CMU Mavericks Collegiate Mountain Bike and Road Team has placed the Maverick squad among the world elite with a precedent setting selection of four athletes selected to compete in the world championships.
"Being selected for the world championships is a lifetime achievement for the athletes and program,” said CMU Cycling Coach Brian Flaherty. "Aside from the Olympic games or Grand Tours I would rank this event as one of the most prestigious in the world and having one student selected would be outstanding — but four is almost unheard of.”
Flahery says that what also makes the announcement unlikely is that one of the team coaches is also a participant in the race. He explained that its rare for a collegiate-level coach to also be able to compete at the same level of competition as the players.
“Ms. Skarda being both a graduate and a coach is setting an extraordinary bar by also being selected to compete in the world championships,” he said.
Sean Brumelle, local cycling enthusiast and member of the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association believes that CMU’s success at the collegiate level also helps the local riding community.
“As a local enthusiast and promoter of regional mountain biking I was pleased to hear the news,” said Brumelle. “With our local collegian riders participating on the global stage their hard work brings new potential and resources to our region as a global destination and hub for the sport.”
Elite riders from CMU selected for world competition include:
Alexis Skarda
- CMU 2013 graduate
- Racing in Women's Elite category
- Three time Collegiate National Champion for CMU
- 2011, 2012 and 2013 in Cross Country Mountain Bike
- Second trip to world championships in Women’s Elite
- Current Assistant CMU Mountain Bike Coach – 3rd Year
Gwendalyn Gibson
- Junior studying exercise science
- Racing in the Women's U23 category
- Third trip to world championships
- Once as a junior and twice as a U23 Athlete
- Four time USA Collegiate Academic All-Star
Alexis Bobbitt
- Freshman studying exercise science
- Racing in the Women's Junior category
- First selection to world championships
Katie Clouse
- Freshman studying nursing
- Racing in the Women’s Junior Road category in York, Great Britain
- Multiple time world championship participant
- Twice in cyclocross and twice in road
