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VERONA, WISCONSIN—Exactly five months after having back surgery, Sue Butler stormed the course at the 2013 National Championships to take the win in her first cyclocross race of the season.

Sue Butler returns to Masters racing and takes another National Championship in the 40-44 group. ©Cyclocross Magazine

Sue Butler returns to Masters racing and takes another National Championship in the 40-44 group. ©Cyclocross Magazine

Butler rode a commanding race, working her way quickly up from a last-row starting position and then pushing ahead to establish a strong lead halfway through the first lap. Linda Sone (Crossniacs) and Katrina Dowdichuck (Colavita Racing Inc.) led a chase with Kristen Weber (Boulder Cycle Sport) close behind.

Defending champ Sone chasing Dowidchuck for second in the Masters Women 40-44 National Championships. © Cyclocross Magazine

Defending champ Sone chasing Dowidchuck for second in the Masters Women 40-44 National Championships. © Cyclocross Magazine

As the race continued, Butler’s lead stabilized and Dowidchuck slowly began to pull away from Sone after the two had distanced themselves from Weber. Butler’s luck – and uncertain fitness  – held, and the Portland resident raised her hands in victory, clearly overjoyed to be back competing on her bike. Dowidchuck kept her bike upright, and crossed the line a few moments later in second.

“It was a lot more emotional than I thought it would be crossing the finish line, because I haven’t gotten to race all season,” Butler told Cyclocross Magazine. “I just kept it really smooth. This was technical and fun, without the misery of rain.”

Over the summer, Butler had back surgery to resolve a back issue  from a crash in at St. Wendel in 2010 – this Nationals win also marked her return to racing. “I started training in the first week of November. I’m probably at 80%. I will be at Masters Worlds.”

Interview with Sue Butler:

[youtube -4-iEgA04kM 580 380]

Tune in regularly right here to Cyclocross Magazine’s 2013 Nationals Homepage for the most comprehensive source of Nationals 2013 info. We will be updating this page hourly for race reports, results, photos and videos!

Masters 40-44 Women Photo Gallery:

2013 Nationals Masters Women 40-44 Results

Place NameCity, StateTime Team
1Susan BUTLER   Portland, OR0:41:08 
2Katrina DOWIDCHUK   Wilmington, DE42:11:00 Colavita Racing Inc.
3Linda SONE   Northfield, MN42:36:00 Crossniacs
4Kristin WEBER   Boulder, CO42:55:00 Boulder Cycle Sport
5Margell ABEL   Boulder, CO43:34:00 Tough Girl Cycling
6Kimberly FLYNN   Hixson, TN44:42:00 USSC-Trek p/b Vantaggio/Scenic City Velo
7Lisa HUDSON   Golden, CO45:12:00 Feedback Sports Racing
8Stephanie UETRECHT   Bend, OR46:24:00 WebCyclery.com/WebCyclery Racing
9Julie PHELPS   De Pere, WI46:43:00 Big Ring Flyers
10Heidi BECK   Delafield, WI48:25:00 Twin Six
11Kimberly THOMAS   Belmont, MI50:19:00 Velo City Cycles
12Lara MAREK   Philadelphia, PA51:04:00 MAMBO CX/GoCycling/Mid Atl Masters Bicycle Org
13Carrie HANSEN   Weymouth, MA51:19:00 Cycle Lodge
14Suzanne JOHNSON   St. Louis, MO@1Lap Michelob Ultra - Big Shark Racing Team/Michelob Ultra - Big Shark Racing
15Meredith RAMBOW   Saint Paul, MN@1Lap Birchwood/GIS
16Gina KENNY   Orland Park, IL@1Lap PSIMET Racing
DNSJennifer HERRELL-RHOADES   Kansas City, MOTrek Cyclocross Collective