Connor Fields (Henderson, Nev./Chase BMX) won the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials for BMX on Saturday and will earn the second automatic nomination to the men’s BMX squad that will represent the United States later this summer in London. As discretionary nominees named at the National BMX Hall of Fame induction ceremony following the event, Alise Post (Saint Cloud, Minn./Redline) and Nic Long (Lakeside, Calif./Haro Bikes) will also join the 2012 U.S. Olympic BMX team.
Fields crossed the line victorious Saturday afternoon in the winner-take-all final on the London-replica track at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. After accruing the second-most points in the multi-heat competition to qualify for the main, Fields defeated Mike Day (San Diego, Calif./GT Bicycles), Corben Sharrah (Tucson, Ariz./GT Bicycles) and Barry Nobles (Menifee, Calif./DK Bicycles) in the final.
“All that matters is the final and that one moment of getting to the final and winning the final. It doesn’t matter if you won every lap leading up to that,” said Fields. “It feels so much bigger than winning any other bike race; punching a ticket to the Olympic Games. It’s a real honor. Being an American athlete there is somewhat of a target on your back, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Fields began the day by posting the second fastest time trial in 38.229, just behind Sharrah at 37.964. The 19 year-old Fields went on to win the first eight-man, head-to-head moto in a photo finish with Sharrah. Sharrah then edged Fields in moto number two.
Only the top six riders in the overall points standings were eligible to advance to the third moto, where Sharrah, Nobles and Day finished one, two, three to secure their spots in the four-man final.
The event is set to be televised on the NBC Sports Network on Saturday, June 23, from 6 – 7:30 p.m. ET.
Fields joins automatic qualifiers David Herman (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Free Agent-Rockstar) and Arielle Martin (Spanaway, Wash./Intense BMX), who ended the 2012 season as the top-ranked athletes in USA Cycling’s men’s and women’s BMX Power Rankings respectively, as nominees to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team for BMX. Long and Post will complete the team as discretionary nominees.
All of USA Cycling’s discretionary nominations are made by a highly qualified, independent committee, facilitated by key USA Cycling staff, using the posted principles of discretionary selection which are centered on an athlete’s capability to medal or otherwise enhance team performance and create a medal capable environment.
2012 U.S. Olympic Team for BMX
Men
David Herman (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Free Agent-Rockstar)
Connor Fields (Henderson, Nev./Chase BMX)
Nic Long (Lakeside, Calif./Haro Bikes)
Women
Arielle Martin (Spanaway, Wash./Intense BMX)
Alise Post (Saint Cloud, Minn./Redline)
*All nominations are subject to approval by the USOC board of directors.
RESULTS:
2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – BMX
U.S. Olympic Training Center – Chula Vista, Calif.
Saturday, June 16
FINAL
1. Connor Fields (Henderson, Nev./Chase BMX) 38.203
2. Mike Day (San Diego, Calif./GT Bicycles) 38.623
3. Corben Sharrah (Tucson, Ariz./GT Bicycles) 38.765
4. Barry Nobles (Menifee, Calif./DK Bicycles) 45.565
POINTS TOTALS before final
Corben Sharrah (Tucson, Ariz./GT Bicycles) 32
Connor Fields (Henderson, Nev./Chase BMX) 20
Mike Day (San Diego, Calif./GT Bicycles) 15
Barry Nobles (Menifee, Calif./DK Bicycles) 13
Josh Meyers (Treasure Island, Fla./Ssquared-Answer) 3
Nic Long (Lakeside, Calif./Haro Bikes) 1
Donny Robinson (Napa, Calif./Hyper Bicycles) 0
Joey Bradford (Monterey, Calif./Prophecy BMX) 0
MOTO 3
1. Corben Sharrah 38.765 (10)
2. Barry Nobles 39.243 (7)
3. Mike Day 39.678 (5)
4. Josh Meyers 41.608 (3)
5. Nic Long 53.767
6. Connor Fields 74.242
MOTO 2
1. Corben Sharrah 38.466 (10)
2. Connor Fields 39.058 (7)
3. Mike Day 39.455 (5)
4. Barry Nobles 40.133 (3)
5. Nic Long 40.743
6. Josh Meyers 41.311
7. Donny Robinson 41.702
8 Joey Bradford 43.330
MOTO 1
1. Connor Fields 38.733 (10)
2. Corben Sharrah 38.748 (7)
3. Mike Day 39.155 (5)
4. Barry Nobles 40.048 (3)
5. Nic Long 40.774
6. Donny Robinson 41.311
7. Joshua Meyers 41.793
8. Joey Bradford 52.271
TIME TRIAL POINTS TOTAL
1. Corben Sharrah 37.964 (5)
2. Connor Fields 38.229 (3)
3. Nic Long 39.047 (1)
TIME TRIAL TIMES
TIME TRIAL 1
Joey Bradford 39.720
Corben Sharrah 37.964
Joshua Meyers 42.177
Donny Robinson 40.399
Barry Nobles 40.943
Mike Day 39.211
Nic Long 39.710
Connor Fields 38.229
TIME TRIAL 2
Joey Bradford 54.530
Corben Sharrah 38.488
Joshua Meyers 40.653
Donny Robinson 57.884
Barry Nobles 42.071
Mike Day 47.680
Nic Long 39.047
Connor Fields 63.480
Photo © UCIBMX/craigdutton.com
