More highlights from this state championship weekend:

• » Zach Reed (Dogfish) was the only Illinois rider to make the break in the P/1/2 state championship, but Will Nowak (Verizon u25) put in a Herculean attempt to bridge, riding in no-man's land for the final 30 miles to finish 4th. Defending champion Seth Meyer was also able to pop free late, taking the bronze medal to round out the state podium.
• » In less than a year as a 3, Chris Curran (Burnham Racing) has won only twice, but he's made them count with both wins coming at our state road race championships. He was part of a group off the front for much of the final lap Saturday, but after it was caught was able to recover to win a fast bunch sprint. Going back to 2008, Burnham Racing has won three of the last five Cat 3 state championships on the road, the other two coming in the criterium. (Curran rode for Bloomington Cycle in 2009.)
• » Kyle Selph (Tower Racing) also picked up where he left off: He won two 5's races at last year's state road race championships, and this year he won out of a bunch sprint in the 4's.
• » Residency played a big factor in the masters races. In the 50+, six out-of-state riders went down the road, leading to a field sprint for 7th and the state championship, won by Wayne Simon (Verdigris). Because of a small 30+ field, the 30+ and 40+ raced together, with Justin Armstead (Team Mack) and Mark Swartzendruber (Verizon Wireless) finally breaking free to take the respective wins. (Because there were only two Illinois riders in the 30+ field, however, I believe only Swartzendruber gets to claim a state championship.)
• » All due respect to my friends at Half Acre Cycling, their podium shoes have not exactly been broken in yet when it comes to road racing. That changed in a big, big way Saturday when they put together an impressive train at the end of the 4/5's race in O'Fallon, finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th behind Jamie Sanchez, Todd Simeone, Isaiah Jay and Patrick Kenny.
• » A not-small number of riders received centerline disqualifications, including the initial winner of the 4/5's race. Such DQ's will never be fair or complete. There will always be someone who strayed farther or advanced more or crossed with more nefarious intention. To a rider, the DQ'd just crossed for a second, and it was because they got bumped, or the rider ahead slowed, or there was a gust of wind. That's racin'. It's always a bummer to be the one to have an example made of, but examples must be made -- I would not have been shocked to have been one myself -- and I applaud the officials for the extra enforcement.
• » Cathy Frampton (Project 5) was first to finish the women's 3/4's race, but she, too, was DQ'd, but for passing the pace car, the result of a confusing overlap with the P/1/2 field. If there were a medal for sportsmanship, however, Frampton would earn it for appearing to have taken the disappointment in stride.
• » Ian Murray (XXX Racing-AthletiCo) had hoped to finish his 4's career with a state championship, but fell short, finishing 3rd on Saturday. He used that leg opener to his advantage, however, winning the 4's criterium in O'Fallon on Saturday.
• » New state champion Jessi Prinner (ABD, above) also doubled up, winning the women's open on Sunday as well.
• » Don Lowe (Team Mack) rolled a tire and took a tumble last weekend, so it's good to see he was able to come back for a 2nd in the 50+ at the O'Fallon criterium.
• » Let's say it's late in the race and you're about to bridge to a solo rider. You're cooked from the effort, and you have a split second to decide: Sit on his wheel, or keep on going? The temptation is to grab some quick rest, but almost always the right move is to get out of the saddle and punch it before he can react. That's what Tim Speciale (Psimet) did at the Wonder Lake 3's race, riding through a dangerous move on the last lap and barely holding off the field for the win.
• » Early candidate for rookie of the year Cady Chintis has joined Alberto's and is continuing her winning ways, winning the women's 4's race at Spring Prairie. Dave Keil (W2 Racing) is also off to a near-perfect start, with four podiums in four outings; he won the out-of-state 4/5's race out of a large field sprint. Mark Winston (2CC) was our other local winner, winning the 30+ out of a nine-man selection.

Saturday results O'Fallon Grand Prix road race

Sunday results O'Fallon Grand Prix criterium Spring Prairie Road Race Wonder Lake Lakeside Criterium

O'Fallon Grand Prix road race reports Chris Curran (Burnham Racing; 3): "All of a sudden I was alone and it occurred to me that I'm going to win. Pure adrenaline rush. I didn't want anyone to pass me so I pedaled harder."

Cathy Frampton (Project 5; W-3/4): "With the guys jamming up our race, I went by the pace car and said 'We gotta go!'"

Tamara Fraser (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; W-open): "I had tantalizing glimpses of the yellow kit of the racer ahead, and finally at 2500 meters from the finish, I caught her."

Ian Murray (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4): "John sat on the front for the last two miles, keeping me in perfect position coming into the final climb."

Will Nowak (Verizon u25; P/1/2): "I attacked and attacked but was continually get chased down by the dwindling field."

Rob Raguet-Schofield (Wild Card Cycling; 4): "This final stretch was closed to traffic and the road was five lanes wide. 40 relatively fresh riders now decided to sprint to the finish. It was pandemonium."

Jannette Rho (Chicago Cuttin' Crew; W-open): "Hills, twists, turns, wind, repeat."

Jamie Sanchez (Half Acre Cycling; 4/5): "It was so cool approaching the line. We had four guys in great position going for it."

Luke Seemann (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; P/1/2): "The peloton shrugged. '80 miles in the blazing sun? Ha!'"

Mark Swartzendruber (Verizon Wireless; 40+): "I did a Cancellara move, tapped my brake hood, activated the super secret motor thingy and while still seated, mysteriously accelerated as I shifted gears and pedaled harder."

Joe Tortorelli (Verizon Wireless; 3): "We get another and then there is a group of seven up the road and we are putting time into the field!"

O'Fallon Grand Prix criterium reports Cathy Frampton (Project 5; W-3/4, W-open): "The pace stayed high and attacks were associated with primes."

Ian Murray (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 4): "I was out for blood in the crit on Sunday."

Will Nowak (Verizon u25; P/1/2): "This pattern continued for the remainder of the race. I attacked, people followed me, and then they sat up."

Mark Swartzendruber (Verizon Wireless; 40+): "Yadda, yadda, yadda, I beat him in the sprint and took second."

Joe Tortorelli (Verizon Wireless; 3): "I felt like Ballan and his attack at the world championships. I knew I had to go and just dropped down and gave it everything I had to go past them."

Spring Prairie reports Ronit Bezalel (Half Acre Cycling; W-4): "Once the iron cage lifted, I started biking faster, but I still was by myself."

Debbie Dust (Bouledogue Tout Noir; W-P/1/2/3): "There were times along the way where this 'race' was more like a freakin' goat rodeo."

Jen Groen (Half Acre Cycling; W-4): "We might not have come anywhere near placing, nor rode the prettiest bikes, but we both 'rode with heart' and added a chapter (or more) to our racing knowledge."

Luke Seemann (XXX Racing-AthletiCo; 30+): "Hitting the corner in 3rd, I went full gas."

Spring Prairie photos John Wilke

Wonder Lake reports Shawn Delk (Project 5; 4, 30+ 4/5): "Just dug it as hard as I could to the line."

Arron Hampton (Psimet; 5, 30+ 4/5): "A combination of getting squeezed and popping in Turn 3 had me toasted."

Tony Rienks (Beverly Bike/Vee-Pak; 4, 30+ 4/5): "It was a slow-paced race with just a couple of accelerations."

Tim Speciale (Psimet; 3): "It wasn’t exactly my intention to drop him but there was no way I could slow down."