Hopkins Students Make Their Mark in Inaugural Mountain Bike Race
Seniors Sarah Benton and Bjorn Leach each placed in the first Minnesota High School Cycling League race.
A pair of Hopkins High School students placed in the Minnesota High School Cycling League’s inaugural race Sunday, according to the organization.
Senior Sarah Benton placed fourth in the girls junior varsity division, and senior Bjorn Leach placed fifth in the boys junior varsity division.
Benton and Leach were among 151 students who competed at Salem Hills in Inver Grove Heights on a mountain bike course the league said, “offered plenty of fast and flowing single track, winding through a combination of wooded stretches and swooping turns.”
The race kicked off the league’s new high school series, which has 20 teams from across the state competing in four races through Oct. 28. The next race takes place Sept. 23 at Eastwood Park in Rochester.
"Thanks to the help of our staff and volunteers, we hit one out of the park today," a news release quoted Race Director Gary Sjoquist. "Great weather, strong support from the parents and coaches, and heroic efforts by the student athletes made for an epic day of mountain bike racing in Minnesota."
Both Benton and Leach are best known for their Nordic skiing abilities. Benton earned a spot on the 2012 Midwest Junior National Ski Team and was named all conference. Leach received honorable mention recognition for all-conference honors.
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John Rodgers
12:15 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
This is pretty cool...i feel like cycling is not as popular as it should be in my opinion especially in high schools and its pretty cool that this hs has this race set up. i ride my se road bike that i got from http://2wheelbikes.com/se-premium-ale-10-fixed-gear-single-speed-bike-dragonblue.html and its nice to see others get into riding