PORT ANGELES — Heavy rain Friday night didn’t dampen the spirits and more importantly didn’t damage the track as nearly 700 riders from all around the state competed in Washington state championships on Saturday and Sunday at the Lincoln Park BMX track.
A total of 289 riders took to the track Saturday and 403 more rode in 81 individual races Sunday in the state championships held this weekend at the track that was refurbished this winter and spring.
Five state champions came from Port Angele with local riders especially dominating the intermediate classes on Sunday. Seven local riders won the triple point races on Sunday.
State champions were Finn Thompson, 11 Intermediate; Zach Pinell, 12 Intermediate; Andy Goldsbary, 13 intermediate; Joseph Pinell, 14 Intermediate and Taylor Coleman, 14 girl.
“Friday night was extremely wet, it was the first night racing we’ve ever had,” said track operator Sean Coleman. But, after a lot of work Saturday morning, the track was ready to go despite the rain.
“That was the best shape it’s been in all season,” Coleman said. The rains held off most of the rest of the weekend with showers coming down Sunday after the racing was over.
Coleman said many of the riders who came in from Seattle, Tacoma and the eastern half of the state had never seen Port Angeles’ track before.
“They were pleasantly surprised at how well it held up to the weather. Everyone had a good time,” Coleman said.
Coleman said several local riders came into the championships with a lot of points laredy built up during the season and many of them produced well over the weekend. Three local state championship riders — Joseph Pinell, Goldsbary and Thompson — collected enough points to graduate from intermediate to expert.
Winning the 26-30 Cruiser class was Shawn Newman of Port Angeles.
In the intermediate classes, the great run of local riders began with Ronan McGuire of Port Angeles, who won the 10 Intermediate class.
That was just the beginning of PA’s dominance.
Thompson won the 11 Intermediate, Zachary Pinell the 12 Intermediate, Goldsbary the 13 Intermediate, Joseph Pinell the 14 Intermediate and Matt Groves of the 21-25 Intermediate. All of those riders are from Port Angeles.
In fact, Port Angeles totally cleaned up in the 13 Intermediate with Goldsbary winOVERSET FOLLOWS:ning, Anthony Brigandi taking second and Zade Wirth third.
Washington State BMX Championships
Lincoln Park BMX Track, Port Angeles
Sunday, September 9 Results
Local finishes
4 Balance bike — Brooklyn Pruss, Port Angeles, second
3 Balance bike —Donny Newman, PA, fourth
13-14 Girls Cruiser — Taylor Coleman, PA, third.
36-40 Women Cruiser — Catherine Copas, PA, third
10 Cruiser — Anthony Jones, PA, third
12 Cruiser — Cash Coleman, The Woodshed, PA, fourth; Joseph Ritchie, PA, seventh.
26-30 Cruiser — Shawn Newman, PA, first.
36-40 Cruiser — Christian Hawk, Sequim, third.
61 & Over Cruiser — George Williams, Bike Elf Mowing, PA, third.
5 & Under Novice —Levi Hull, Sequim, second.
6 Novice — Blake Sweetser, Lovell Road Runner Shell, PA, third; Brodyn Pruss, PA, fifth.
9 Novice — Isaac Anderson, PA, third; Morgan Short, Chimacum, fourth; Chase Latimer, PA, fifth.
11 Novice — Natale Brigandi, PA, fifth.
13 Novice — Russell Gaither, Sequim, third.
6 Intermediate — Evan Hernandez, Mitch Gray Inc./Graphix Monger, PA, sixth; Dominic Casebolt, PA, seventh.
9 Intermediate — Zephyr Thompson, PA, sixth.
10 Intermediate — Ronan McGuire, PA, first; Talen Gierth, Sequim, fifth.
11 Intermediate — Finn Thompson, PA, first.
12 Intermediate — Zachary Pinell, Sonic BMX, PA, first.
13 Intermediate — Andy Goldsbary, Ben’s Bikes, PA, first; Anthony Brigandi, PA, second; Zade Wirth, Bikemaster, PA, third.
14 Intermediate — Joseph Pinell, Sonic BMX, PA, first; Colby Groves, Bike Garage, PA, third; Josh Garrett, PA, fifth.
17-20 Intermediate — Ty Bourm, Sequim, second.
21-25 Intermediate — Matt Groves, PA, first.
15-16 Girls — Taylor Coleman, PA, second.
10 Expert — Anthony Jones, PA, fourth.
11 Expert — Brian Belbin, Racer Army, PA, sixth.
12 Expert — Cash Coleman, The Woodshed, PA, fourth; Joseph Ritchie, PA, seventh.
17-20 Expert — Cory Cooke, Lincoln Park Grocery, PA, sixth.
26-35 Expert — Shawn Newman, PA, third.
