Babcock ends Skerritt’s PDX short track streak

Jun 28, 2010 by editor

PORTLAND — Shannon Skerritt’s streak at the Portland Short Track Series stretched back to last year until Team S&M’s Sean Babcock knocked him from the top step of the podium Monday night on a course that winds through PIR’s infield.

Skerritt (Trek 29er) and Babcock dueled throughout the 35-minute race, each taking shots at the other as they switched leads and pressed the pace at the front. Babcock finally gained an opening on the last lap as the riders made their way through lapped traffic. Babcock passed a rider just before entering a tight right-hand turn that squeezed between two trees. Skerritt had to hesitate for just a moment, providing Babcock the gap he needed to build an advantage all the way to the finish line.

“We were right there together the whole time,” Babcock said. “I knew eventually something had to give.”

Something had to eventually give in Skerritt’s streak as well. Since the series’ inception, Skerritt had never lost a race that he finished, although he suffered one mechanical last season in a race eventually won by Doug Wilmes. Skerritt still leads the series after winning last week and finishing second Monday.  Steve Carwile finished third.

In the Pro women’s race, Christy Love (Team S & M) won her second consecutive race after taking the opener last week as well. Love finished ahead of Brooke McDermid (bicycleattorney.com) and Sue Grandjean (Showers Pass) by wasting little time opening up a lead and then extending her advantage through the eight laps.

Check out the PHOTO GALLERY. …

RESULTS

Pro Men
1. Babcock, Sean (Team S&M) 9
2. Skerritt, Shannon (Trek 29er) 9
3. Carwile, Steve 9
4. Snyder, Chris 9
5. McCaffrey, John (bicycleattorney.com) 9

Pro/1 Women
1. Love, Christy (Team S & M) 8
2. McDermid, Brooke (bicycleattorney.com) 8
3. Grandjean, Sue (Showers Pass)
4. Brown, Brigette (River City Bicycles) 8
5. Whitley, Anona (Ironclad)