Coast Guard Athlete Steve Mlujeak Crowned U.S. Military National Time Trial Champion

Franklin, Tennessee (18 July 2002) - PO2 Steve Mlujeak, Coast Guard athlete stationed at Air Station Detroit, captured the U.S. Military National Time Trial Championship. Mlujeak completed the 38.5km course in 51:57.31. Mlujeak bested second place Marine Lt Mike Easter of Camp Pendleton by three and a half minutes. Easter clocked a time of 55:28.43. Six seconds later, for third place, local Army athlete SFC Jim Sharp, Ft Campbell, rolled in at 55:34.73.

On a day of high heat, high humidity and the occasional downpour of rain, military cyclists competed against the best professionals and amateur cyclists in the country. This military championship event is a part of the larger U.S. Elite National Cycling Championships. The 38.5km race against the clock was held on a rolling section of the Natchez Trace Parkway. In his first time trial of the year, Mlujeak placed 32nd among the elites. Easter, who rode more than half of the race with a broken time-trial bar, placed 60th followed by Sharp in 61st. The elite race was won by U.S. Postal Service rider Dylan Casey with a time of 47:07.29.

Although a women's category was offered, no military women entered this event.

The U.S. Elite and Military National Championship Road Race will be held on Saturday. The men will ride 120 miles on a challenging 17-mile course with a total of 8000 feet of climbing. Women will race 67 miles on the same course. Unlike the time trial, only U.S. Cycling Federation Category 1 men are permitted in this event. The women's race is limited to USCF category 1 and 2 athletes. Professional cyclists had their road championship in June.

On Sunday, athletes will race in downtown Nashville for the U.S. Military National Criterium Championship. The championship race for men will be a part of a Pro/1/2 event and the women's championship will come from the category 1/2/3 race.

These U.S. Cycling Federation National Championship events have been organized by Trinity Sports Group (www.trinitysportsgroup.com) of Nashville. The cycling championships are a part of a larger annual event known as the "Freedom Fest". In addition to the championship race events, the organizers are hosting races for all categories of riders during the four-day city festival. The entire 2002 event is held in honor of Sgt Philip Svitak, U.S. Army soldier, cyclist and Trinity Sports Group member who was killed in Afghanistan earlier this year.