Day 1 of US ParaNationals - Celebrating Project Echelon Veteran National Champions - Justin Mathers & Shawn Morelli

​Fifteen Para-Cycling Titles Awarded on the First Day of 2025 Pro Road Nationals
 
Para-cyclists competed for the Stars and Stripes in Downtown Charleston.
 
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – May 19, 2025 – The 2025 USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships kicked off on Monday morning with the Para-cycling categories. Twenty-six of the nation’s best para-athletes competed for the first time in Charleston as part of the Pro Road National Championships. 
 
The first race of the day kicked off with the Tandem and Cycling classes. Men’s Tandem and C3-C5 raced a total of nine laps on the eight-kilometer course, which totaled 69-kilometers. Earning the first gold medal of the week, Michael Murphy (Rio Rancho, N.M.; The Veloflö Projekt) and pilot Joseph Matta won the Men’s B class. They completed the race in just under two hours. “This was a great race getting us prepped for tomorrow’s time trial,” said Murphy. “Being able to be out there with the other categories was awesome. It’s an electrifying event; this is super cool having this many people around for a race.”
 
Men’s B (Tandem) Results:
1. Michael Murphy & Joseph Matta (Rio Rancho, N.M.; The Veloflö Projekt)
 
In the second wave of the day in the Men’s C5 category, Chris Grant (Lake Placid, N.Y.; High Peaks Cyclery) delivered a strong performance, claiming the top step of the podium with a seven-minute lead over second place Erik Olson (Bridger, Mont.; CAF Cycling/Allard Team Up). In the same wave the Men’s C4 race was tight all the way to the line. 
 
CJ Howard (Sacramento, Calif.; Pacos/Shriners Racing) and Mitch Brekke (Hartland, Minn.; Gray Duck Racing) both racing in the Men’s C4 category, and Justin Mathers (Fayetteville, N.C.; Project Ridgeline p/b Irish Cycles) in the Men’s C3 rode together for most of the nine-lap race. Mathers pulled away from Howard and Brekke late in the last lap to claim the Men’s C3 title. Howard and Brekke kept eyes on each other, staying neck and neck all the way to the line. Finishing in a sprint, Howard secured the Stars and Stripes while Brekke earned silver. Ricardo Alanis Saldivar (Mission, Texas; Bikes & More) rounded out the podium in third for the Men’s C4. 
 
Men’s C5 (Cycling) Results:
1. Chris Grant (Lake Placid, N.Y.; High Peaks Cyclery)
2. Erik Olson (Bridger, Mont.; CAF Cycling/Allard Team Up)
 
Men’s C4 (Cycling) Results:
1. CJ Howard (Sacramento, Calif.; Pacos/Shriners Racing)
2. Mitch Brekke (Hartland, Minn.; Gray Duck Racing)
3. Ricardo Alanis Saldivar (Mission, Texas; Bikes & More)
 
Men’s C3 (Cycling) Results:
1. Justin Mathers (Fayetteville, N.C.; Project Ridgeline p/b Irish Cycles)
 
The third wave featured the Men’s C1-C2, and Women’s C1-C5 categories, each completing seven laps for a total of 53.9 kilometers. In the Men’s C2 race, Adrian Wright (Dillon, S.C.; WrightStrong Elite Cyclists) claimed the national title with a time of 1:55:23. On the women’s side, Tracy Lamarche (Easley, S.C.; Greenville Cycling and Multisport) took the top step in the C2 event. 
 
“It was a really nice day for a race,” said Women’s C5 winner Elizabeth Neag (Medina, Ohio; Cleveland Cycling Academy). “First lap through, it came down to three of us. There was another racer in the C5 category [Kelly Worrell] and then my friend Shawn Morelli. We rode together for most of the race. About halfway through, we opened a gap, so it was just Shawn and I crossing the line together. I left a little in the tank for tomorrow because the Time Trial is coming up, so I am super excited for that!” Shawn Morelli (Leavenworth, Kan.; DNA Cycling) went on to win the Women’s C4 race.
 
Men’s C2 (Cycling) Results:
1. Adrian Wright (Dillon, S.C.; WrightStrong Elite Cyclists)
 
Women's C2 (Cycling) Results:
1. Tracy Lamarche (Easley, S.C.; Greenville Cycling and Multisport)
 
Women's C5 (Cycling) Results:
1. Elizabeth Neag (Medina, Ohio; Cleveland Cycling Academy)
2. Kelly Worrell (Augusta, Ga.)
 
Women's C4 (Cycling) Results:
1. Shawn Morelli (Leavenworth, Kan.; DNA Cycling)
 
The second race of the day kicked off with high speeds from the Men’s H3 and H4 races. Riders completed seven laps, covering a total distance of 53.9 kilometers. They started with a fairly large group that stayed together for most of the race. By the last lap, the group dwindled down to two riders, Casey Falkner (Stevensville, Mich.; Mary Free Bed Handcycling) and Todd Richardson (Travelers Rest, S.C.; Alive Day Apparel). Falkner edged out Richardson right at the line, winning the H4 category. Meanwhile, Richardson scored the H3 National Title.
 
Men’s H3 (Handcycle) Results:
1. Todd Richardson (Travelers Rest, S.C.; Alive Day Apparel)
2. Kevin Hillery (Alexandria, Va.; Paralyzed Veterans of America Racing PB First Nation Group)
 
Men's H4 (Handcycle) Results:
1. Casey Falkner (Stevensville, Mich.; Mary Free Bed Handcycling)
2. Bryan Lara (Richmond, Va.)
3. Jared Fenstermacher (Bloomsburg, Penn.; Team Skyline Cadence)
 
In the next race, the Women’s H3 and H4 categories each completed six laps, covering a total of 46.2 kilometers. Gabrielle Platt (Tulsa, Okla.) and Jo Ann Outten Kenton (Harrington, Del.) rode most of the race together, drafting off one another. Platt was able to ride away towards the end of the race, winning the H3 category, while Outten Kenton took the H4 National Title.
 
Women's H3 (Handcycle) Results:
1. Gabrielle Platt (Tulsa, Okla.)
 
Women's H4 (Handcycle) Results:
1. Jo Ann Outten Kenton (Harrington, Del.)
 
Next up were the Men’s and Women’s T2 categories. In the men’s race, Justin Caine (Holt, Mich.) earned the gold medal after completing four laps for a total of 30.8 kilometers. On the women’s side, Sara Whittingham (Aurora, Ohio) and Mandy Kloepfer (Rockford, Ill.; Peace Cycling Performance/CAF) took on the same challenging course, with Whittingham ultimately taking the win. 
 
When asked about her race, Whittingham said, “This is my first time racing on the trike, so the corners are a challenge for me. I was struggling a little bit since I am still trying to get used to it.” Whittingham has found that cycling has helped so many aspects of her life saying, “I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease about five years ago. Cycling is known to slow progressive Parkinson's, so I’ve been really wanting to raise awareness about how important it is to exercise. I am also a veteran and want to raise awareness about veterans with Parkinson’s. As veterans, we can still keep placing and competing. We need to keep fighting to stay healthy. This was a really great experience, and overall a fun day!”
 
Men’s T2 (Tricycle) Results:
1. Justin Caine (Holt, Mich.)
 
Women's T2 (Tricycle) Results:
1. Sara Whittingham (Aurora, Ohio)
2. Mandy Kloepfer (Rockford, Ill.; Peace Cycling Performance/CAF)
 
Up Next
Racing continues tomorrow with the Junior and Para Individual Time Trials. Click here for the full event schedule.
 
Follow along throughout the week on social media @USACycling, along with the live timing and livestream on FloBikes. Learn more about how to watch the events here.