By: Kellen Gormley
DURANGO, Colo. — Colorado School of Mines Club Cycling continued its fall season over the weekend at the FLC Squawker Classic, competing in short-track cross-country, cross-country and enduro racing across two days in Durango.
Saturday opened with short-track cross-country and the first stage of enduro competition. Ben Mackenzie led the Orediggers in Men's Cat. 1 Enduro, earning a second-place finish, while Brendan Giles took third in Men's Cat. 2. Mahika Peterson added a fifth-place result in Women's Cat. 2/3 Enduro.
In Saturday's XCC races, Austin Kaukl led the highlighted Mines results with a 12th-place finish in Men's Cat. 2. Peterson finished 10th in Women's Cat. 1, while Kate Rizzo placed 12th in Women's Cat. 2/3. Myles Scott represented Mines in Men's Cat. 1, finishing 33rd.
The weekend continued Sunday with XCO racing and the second stage of enduro. Peterson improved on her Saturday cross-country result, taking ninth in Women's Cat. 1 XCO. Rizzo finished 16th in Women's Cat. 2/3, while Kaukl placed 22nd in Men's Cat. 2 and Scott finished 34th in Men's Cat. 1.
Mackenzie recorded another second-place finish in Men's Cat. 1 Enduro on Sunday to complete a strong weekend in Durango. Giles finished ninth in Men's Cat. 2/3, while Peterson added a 13th-place result in Women's Cat. 2/3.
With the Squawker Classic complete, the Orediggers leave Durango with multiple top-five performances as they continue through the fall mountain bike season.