The Grand County High School mountain bike team competed at the state championship meet on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3 and 4, at Three Peaks Trails in Cedar City, placing 11th out of 47 teams in Division 2.
Grand County mountain biking coach Melissa Nerone said that cyclists had to battle constant 10- to 15-mile-per-hour winds with gusts up to 40 miles per hour. The course was six miles with 400 feet of elevation gain. Varsity cyclists did three laps on the course, while sub-varsity cyclists did two.
Grand sophomore Kenobi Clapper was the top Red Devil finisher, placing fourth in the 111-competitor sophomore race. In varsity, senior Tyler Moreau took 78th in what Nerone said was a “very competitive field.”
In the junior varsity race, the Red Devil boys had a handful of racers place in the top third of the 121-person field, including Elijah Topper in 21st. Griffin Shannon was right behind him in 22nd, Wyatt Gholson in 32nd and Ridge Murdock in 41st.
Grand’s lone female mountain biker, junior Annie Kopell, placed 40th in the junior varsity race.
“Everyone should be proud as they battled windy conditions and lots of competitors,” Nerone said. “As always, the vibe at the race venue was incredibly supportive.”
Kenobi Clapper finishes fourth in sophomore race
