May 16, 2004 – USA Cycling will enter a team of six athletes in the 2004 Junior Track Pan American Championships to take place May 31 – June 6 in Cuenca, Ecuador.

Riding for the U.S. will be Aaron Kacala (Racine, Wis.), Ryan Nelman (Houston, Texas), Michael Blatchford (Cypress, Calif.), Ben Barczewski (Schnecksville, Pa.), Tela Crane (Sammanish, Wa.), and Mary Geier (Marion, Ind.). The sprinters were selected based on results from the 2003 Junior National Track Championships, and endurance athletes were selected by Junior Endurance Coach Danny van Haute.

Kacala, Nelman, and Blatchford teamed up to take a third place podium finish in the team sprint at the Olympic Festival in Havana, Cuba in April. Barczewski, who was a 2001 and 2002 Junior National Champion, took fourth in the sprint at the 2003 USCF Elite Track National Championships, while Tela Crane took the silver in the 500 meter time trial at the 2003 Junior Track Nationals. Geier was a bronze medalist in both the 2km pursuit at the 2003 Junior Track National Championships and in the road race at the 2003 Junior National Road Championships.

The team will be led by USA Cycling Development Director Des Dickie.

Men

Michael Blatchford (sprint, keirin, team sprint) Ryan Nelman (sprint, keirin, team sprint) Ben Barczewski (sprint, keirin, team sprint) Aaron Kacala (sprint, keirin, team sprint, kilo)

Women

Tela Crane (sprint, keirin, 500m) Mary Geier (sprint, individual pursuit, scratch race)