USA BMX Celebrates 40th Anniversary with 20th consecutive year of hosting Grand National in Tulsa
GILBERT, Ariz. (PRWEB) December 07, 2017 -- The 2017 USA BMX Grand National, presented by Tulsa Sports Commission, concluded last weekend for a 20th consecutive year in Tulsa. Known as “The Greatest Race on Earth”, the event upheld that title with more than 2,900 riders from 46 states and 23 different countries participating in the year-end event. With more than 300 riders, it was truly an International field.
“Having the 2017 USA BMX Grand Nationals in Tulsa for a 20th consecutive year while USA BMX celebrates 40 years, made for a perfect weekend,” said USA BMX CEO, BA Anderson. Nearly 3,000 riders from around the world migrated to Tulsa to celebrate the Greatest Race on Earth. "Every year, we love to welcome so many riders. This year, the International field nearly doubled. Thanks to the incredible staff at USA BMX and our partners, the Tulsa Sports Commission, for making the 2017 USA BMX Grand National truly one of the best to date.”
Two of the three USA BMX Pro Championships - Vet and Women - were repeat title-holders, while the Mens No.1 Plate went to a first-time champ, ending a nine-year drought for American pros.
Alise Post (St. Cloud, MN) not only repeated her championship title, but also set a new record for 10 total cups (4 as an amateur, 6 as a pro) - making history as the winningest BMXer of all time.
Argentinian Cristian Becerine, who was the first South American to ever win a USA BMX Championship, won his fourth consecutive No.1 plate, which now has him with five No.1 Vet Pro titles.
Olympic Gold medalist Connor Fields ended his season with his first American Pro title. The last American to hold the No.1 plate was Randy Stumpfhauser in 2009.
“This was my 20th year in a row here in Tulsa for Thanksgiving weekend, and it still gives me chills and gets my adrenaline pumping when I enter the stadium,” said Post. “To write my name in the history books of USA BMX as the winningest rider of all time is an amazing honor, and I can't wait to see what the years to come have in store and who might be the next young rider to come along and rewrite these pages.”
Fields added about his first championship title: “To win this years AA-pro championship was a dream come true. It took a ton of hard work combined with the support of my family, sponsors, coach, and training partners, and it feels incredible to bring the championship back to the USA for the first time since 2009.”
"We remain incredibly proud of our longstanding history with USA BMX as the host location for the greatest race on earth," said Vince Trinidad, executive director of the Tulsa Sports Commission. "The USA BMX Grand Nationals event continues to be a favored, top-tier sports experience in our community, and we are honored to have the privilege of welcoming athletes and fans from all over the world to Tulsa, Oklahoma every year over Thanksgiving weekend."
Four additional No.1 titles were awarded in the Amateur divisions, with Maddie DeSantis (from Simi Valley, CA) taking home the overall title for Girl Cruiser, Marshall Gerhke (from Antioch, Illinois) earning the National No.1 Cruiser title, while Southern California’s Katja Shriver won the No.1 Girl Cup. Thirteen-year-old Brandon Crain (of Lake Perris, CA) achieved the biggest accomplishment you can in this sport by winning the No.1 Amateur Championship for 2017.
Katie Moses Swope, USA BMX, http://www.usabmx.com, +1 3103394552, [email protected]
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