The June 2nd CSC Invitational in Arlington, VA doubled as the HealthNet FEderal Services U.S. Handcycling Criterium Championship, and the racing was *awesome* despite a hot, sticky day in the mid-atlantic.
Thanks to the efforts of the Paralyzed Veteran’s of America (PVA), HealthNet, and the DSUSA Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project (sponsored by AIG Insurance), the event was a huge success.
Saturday’s events began with an exhibition race pairing newly-injured service men from Walter Reed Medical Center, with elite handcycling athletes. The wounded warriors were able to take a few laps on the technical course and many definitely caught the racing bug.
The day’s main event saw all the big guns line-up. HCB racer, Todd Richardson has been going well all season long, and turned in an impressive victory, finishing 5th overall and taking the B National Crit. title. Brian Mitchell finished just behind Richardson and won the first-ever C1 Criterium title, while David Randall (who recently switched from C2 to C1) crashed out. Mike Sprouse of Rome, GA looked good as well, as did Mr. Consistency Keane West, and a surprising newcomer, Chris Kaag of Reading, PA.
James Watson was representin’ for the quads and sucked-up the heat to take the HCA title in front of Leland Foster, while Geoff Hopkins of the PVA (HCB) was more about hammin’ it up for the hometown crowd. The race was awesome right from the beginning when PVA Deputy Executive Director, Maurice Jordan blew the whistle for the official start. Not surprisingly, the HCC2 (kneeling) racers moved to the front, and it was Seth Arseneau (Albuqurque, NM), Scott McNeice (St. Petersburg, FL), Oz Sanchez (San Diego, CA) and Chris Peterson (Tierre Verde, FL) who formed the front group.
The surprise of the day was “Mr. Comeback”, Scott McNeice. He looked good early this season in Georgia and Florida, but he looks really good now! Former pack leader, Michel Bond always talks about “the glory days” of handcycling, and it seems they might be back, thanks the VERY competitive fields at most USHF races this year. McNeice may have a lot to do with it, as a man who commands a lot of respect when he shows up. Sanchez — the newbie of the group — was a bit out of sorts in a brand new bike. In the end, it was all about the cornering. With Sanchez trying to figure out his new rig, and Peterson choking after chasing out of ever turn, it was all about McNeice and Arseneau. In the final lap, Arseneau guided his [Schmicking] steed through the turns with a perfect line, and McNeice was hot on his tail. In the final turn to the finish, McNeice made doubly sure Sanchez had nowhere to go and it was a two-up sprint with Arseneau to the line. But the 25-year old Arseneau fancies himself as a bit a criterium specialist — hew was crit champion in 2003 and won in Redlands earlier this year — and went for it all the way to the line. McNeice gave a valiant last minute effort, but it was the young Arseneau who took home the stars ‘n bars jersey.
Some racers braved the light rain the next day and didn’t regret it as they competed on a beautiful time trial course at Haines Point Loop.
A more detailed story and photos will be featured in an upcoming issue of Sports ‘n Spokes, but full results and a photo collage are linked here:
- Full results from the CSC Invitational and Sunday’s TT
- Photo Collage from the local newspaper, ROLL CALL.
photo of Seth Arseneau courtesy of Roll Call
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