May 21, 2007 (Valencia, Venezuela) – The United States Cycling Team kicked off the 2007 Pan American Road and Track Championships with two gold medals Monday as Brad Huff (Fair Grove, Mo./Slipstream-Chipotle) and Jennie Reed (Kirkland, Wash.) each captured wins in their respective track events on the opening day of competition.

Huff scored a victory in the men’s omnium with 15 points, narrowly beating Colombia’s Juan Arango (16) and the Dominican Republic’s Jorge Perez (16) in the five-event competition. After capturing a bronze medal in the event’s international debut at the UCI Track World Championships last month in Spain, Huff added a second medal to his collection with solid all-around performances in sprint- and endurance-oriented events. Huff placed second in the 200-meter time trial, fifth in the scratch race, third in the individual pursuit and fifth in the points race before clinching his overall victory with a close win in the kilometer time trial.

In the women’s keirin, Reed led out the sprint from start to finish to edge Lizandra Guerra (CUB) in a six-woman final that also included Nancy Contreras (MEX), Diana Garcia (COL), Monique Sullivan (CAN) and Sol Roa (COL). Reed’s victory automatically qualifies her for the 2008 UCI Track World Championships in Manchester, Great Britain next March.

Adam Duvendeck (Santa Barbara, Calif./Echelon Santa Barbara) was the top American finisher in the men’s keirin with a fourth-place effort in the six-man final. Duvendeck placed fourth behind gold medalist Julio Herrera (CUB), runner-up Hernan Sanchez (COL) and third-place finisher Ahmed Lopez (CUB). The United States’ second entry in the keirin, Kevin Selker (Boulder, Colo.), did not advance to the medal round or the consolation round after being eliminated in the first round repechage in a photo finish.

The 2007 Pan American Road and Track Championships continue on Tuesday as several more Americans will be in action on the track. Reed will compete in the qualifying round of the women’s sprint while Duvendeck, Selker and Michael Blatchford (Cypress, Calif.) will contest the men’s sprint. Becky Quinn (Quakertown, Pa.) will compete in the women’s scratch race while Huff and Kenny Williams (Kenmore, Wash.) will race in the men’s scratch race. Also, Neva Day (Manhattan Beach, Calif./South Bay Wheelmen) will replace an injured Sarah Hammer (Temecula, Calif./Ouch Pro Cycling) in the women’s individual pursuit.

2007 Pan American Road and Track Championships
Valencia, Venezuela – May 21-27

Men’s Omnium
1. Brad Huff (Fair Grove, Mo.) 15
2. Juan Arango (COL) 16
3. Jorge Perez (DOM) 16
4. Gonzalo Miranda (CHI) 20
5. Frederick Segura (VEN) 21

Women’s Keirin
1. Jennie Reed (Kirkland, Wash.)
2. Lizandra Guerra (CUB)
3. Nancy Contreras (MEX)
4. Diana Garcia (COL)
5. Monique Sullivan (CAN)

Men’s Keirin
1. Julio Hererra (CUB)
2. Hernan Sanchez (COL)
3. Ahmed Lopez (CUB)
4. Adam Duvendeck (Santa Barbara, Calif.)
5. Cam Mackinnon (CAN)