August 17, 2000
Thater Memorial to Host National Handcycle Championships
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. - Broome County Executive Jeffrey Kraham in conjunction with the U.S. Handcycling Federation (part of the U.S. Disabled Cycling program and a division of Wheelchair Sports USA) announced this afternoon that Broome County STOP-DWI will host the National Handcycle Criterium Championships as part of the Chris Thater Memorial Races set for August 27, 2000.
"This is really terrific news for the Thater Memorial Race and for all of Broome County," said Mr. Kraham, "The popularity of handcycling in exploding nationally, and we are indeed very fortunate to have this Championship here."
"We feel fortunate to be involved with such a fantastic event," said USHF Chairperson, Tom Foran. "I think many of our athletes feel particularly honored to be involved in an event like the Thater because it is more than just a bike race."
1999 National Handcycle Road Race champion, Michael Bond (St. Petersburg, FL) agrees. Bond, paralyzed in 1990 after a drunk driver ran him down says, "This race means a lot to me for obvious reasons, but mainly, I'm going to Binghamton to bring home a National Champion's jersey."
Bond's sentiment is echoed throughout the handcycling world. Top handcyclists from all over the country will descend on Binghamton to compete for the official "Stars 'n Bars" National Champion's jersey and a gold medal from USA Cycling.
Handcycling - the newest of the disabled cycling categories - was officially recognized as part of the U.S. Disabled Cycling program in 1998 when it was included at the World Disabled Cycling Championships (Colorado Springs) for the first time. Since 1998, the sport has exploded and wheelchair athletes are signing up for races all across the United States.
The Criterium Championships in Binghamton also mark the season finale for handcyclists who have competed in a national series of criteriums sponsored by Manhattan-based WeMedia (a news-service for the disability community). The series included top-level criteriums from the Saturn Pro Tour and the USCF National Racing Calendar. The Chris Thater Criterium is not only the National Championships for handcycling, but it will also determine the series winner for the season.
With so much on the line, the field is shaping-up to be a who's who of wheelchair sports: Current criterium series points leader (and former Nike poster boy) Craig Blanchette (Olympia, WA) will be on hand, as will Bond and '98 World Handcycling Champion Scott McNeice (St. Petersburg, FL). Carlos Moleda - the Kona Ironman Champion in '98 & '99 - will be there as well. For the women, it will be reigning criterium & time trial Champion, Monica Bascio (Santa Cruz, CA) battling with the top women's finisher at the '98 World Championships, Sherry Ramsey (Littleton, CO). Handcycling also includes a "quad" division for athletes with higher-levels of impairment. Typically, these athletes don't have full hand dexterity or full tricep function. In addition, they don't sweat, so they will be battling the heat in Binghamton armed with lots of water. Former Navy SEAL Al Kovach is undefeated so far in 2000, and he is the odds-on favorite to win the quad division in Binghamton.
Handcyclists are also competing in the National Time Trial Championships the previous day at Tioga Center. The Time Trial Championships- sponsored by Tioga Velo Club, Invacare, and WeMedia - should be the warm-up to Sunday's season finale in downtown Binghamton.
For more information about the Handcycle Championships, or handcycling in general, visit the following websites:
or call the USHF at: 831.457.7747 or BC STOP-DWI at: 607.778.2056.
Email: info@ushf.org
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