LAVRA Winter Classic Presented by: Cal Pacific Export Packers

Photo: Lauren Tamayo by USAC

Omnium
1st Lauren Tamayo

Tempo
1st Lauren Tamayo
2nd Tara Whitten
3rd Cari Higgins
4th Hanan Alves-Hyde

Points
1st Tara Whitten
2nd Lauren Tamayo
3rd Cari Higgins
4th Sinead Miller

Scratch
1st Lauren Tamayo
2nd Cari Higgins
3rd Tara Whitten
4th Sinead Miller

After spending a few days at USAC Training Camp at Home Depot Center Velodrome, the squad took part in the winter omnium. It was a great opportunity just have some fun and get some good training in. The first race was a 20 lap tempo, and Canadian, Tara Whitten the 2009 UCI Track World Championships Omnium Silver medalist took control of the race from the gun. Cari took the first lap points, while everyone else was single file behind Tara. A few laps in things started heating up. Hanan got things rolling, sprinting around Tara and taking the points for the lap. After another lap or so Lauren started going for points making Tara surge every time. Finally with about 4 laps to go Lauren went for points with only Hanan following. They worked together to take the remainder of the points that were left for the race, with Lauren winning the final sprint, Hanan 2nd and Cari 3rd. The final placing: Lauren 1st, Tara 2nd, Cari 3rd, Hanan 4th.

Next up the points race. 4 sprints every 10 laps. Cari gave Tara a good run for her money in the first 2 sprints, each winning one. After the 2nd sprint is when Lauren made her move, and attacked right over the top. After a lap or so Tara bridged across, and the two worked together to lap what was left of the field. Final results: Tara 1st, Lauren 2nd, Cari 3rd.

The final event on tap was the 20 lap scratch race. By the time this one rolled around we were all feeling the training and racing, but it was a good way to end the night. It was a pretty controlled race. Tara tried catching us off guard at one point and put in an attack, but Lauren was able to bring her back. They worked together for a few laps before the field all came back together. Cari put in an attack with Hanan to follow. Tara jumped after them and Lauren followed. After a few laps we were all together again and focusing on the finish. Coming into the bell lap Lauren went to the front with Cari on her hip. It stayed that way all the way to the line. Lauren 1st, Cari 2nd, and Tara 3rd.