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JERSEY DAY DELIVERS

PULL BMX
5 days ago
2 min read

Fueled by American pride, racers and fans streamed through the gates of Hardesty National BMX Stadium for Day 2 of the 2025 USA Cycling Elite National Championships. With the nation’s best charging the hill, every lap crackled with speed—and inspiration for the next generation of BMX stars.

Junior Men | First-Year Sensation

In the Junior Men’s main event, first-year junior Evan Esposito made his move perfectly in Turn 2, slicing past defending champ Sean Day and igniting cheers from the crowd. Esposito’s bold pass not only secured gold but brought teammate Gaige Gomolicke home in silver.

Junior Women | Derin Merten’s Reign Continues

The Junior Women’s field was all Derin Merten, whose smooth, powerful lines shrugged off a late charge from Las Vegas standout Savanna Stokes. Merten crossed first to clinch her inaugural National Title—and extend a winning streak that shows no signs of stopping.

Under-23 Men | Popovich’s Outside Charge

Early leader PJ O’Brien set the tempo, but the day’s biggest thrill came from underdog Ethan Popovich. Known more for his endurance than explosive starts, Popovich tucked in the long third straight, carried speed around the outside, and surged from third to first—sealing his third National Title and first in the Under-23 ranks.

Under-23 Women & Elite Women | Two Races, One Track

Under-23 Women raced as a “race within the race” alongside the Elite Women. Keiley Shea and Ava Corley traded paint all the way to the finish, but it was Ava Corley who took the win and her second Under-23 sleeve. Meanwhile, local favorite Payton Ridenour (#15) dominated the Elite Women’s class, sweeping the day for her first USA Cycling National Championship and adding a Stars-and-Stripes sleeve to her Fly Racing kit.

Elite Men | Cam Wood’s Long-Awaited Victory

Elite Men’s racing came down to familiar names—Corben Sharrah, Zach Van Kammen, Drew Polk—but all eyes were on USA BMX National No. 1 Cam Wood. Launching off the backside of the first jump into an early lead, Wood never looked back. He stretched out his advantage, punched the air in his signature “hands-on-bars” celebration, and finally claimed his first USAC Elite sleeve. With that goal checked off, Wood returns to the USA BMX Pro Series riding high on confidence.