LIBERTY – Catskill Claws Mountain Bike Team (CCMBT) is looking ahead to their upcoming race scheduled for Sunday, June 1 at Lippman Park in Wawarsing. The Claws are “riding” high on their times from their race on Walnut Mountain last month. The middle school team was led by Jasper Sackett who completed two laps in the time allotted.  Sackett’s fastest lap time was 32:11 earning him 14th place in the 6th grade boys category. Sylvie Laput completed one lap in the time allotted in 42:09 which earned her 7th place in the 6th grade girls, category.

Our high school team was led by Braedan Clarke who completed all 4 laps with a total time of 1:15:57.86 and had a fastest lap time of 18:02. That time earned him a 7th place finish in the JV boys category.  Clarke’s 7th place finish earned 488 for our Catskill Claws in our first race of the season.  

Grant Brown also earned 448 points for his 13th place finish after completing 4 laps in 1:23:09.12 in the JV boys category.  Brown’s fastest lap time was 19:26.

Aidan Dusenbury-Dalto earned 408 points for his 13th-place finish after completing 3 laps 1:21:43.07 in the Sophomore boys category. Dudenbury-Dalto’s fastest lap time was 25:01.  

After the first event of the season CCMBT is ranked in 14th place with 1344 points ahead of the Otsego Composite team in 15th place with 1319 points.  

Although the temps were less than favorable Keith Stephenson, head coach and team director said, “The weather made this a really challenging event, it was cold, windy and the trails were wet, and slippery. There was plenty of mud which made the course that much more difficult. Otherwise, everyone’s spirits were high, and the excitement and anticipation of the first event of the season was off the charts.