Cooper Willsey Climbs to the Men’s Collegiate D2 Championship Title—Updated: Full Results, Video and Photo Gallery

Full 2016 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championship coverage can be found right here.

ASHEVILLE, North Carolina—As day broke it was clear that the course racers faced over the first three days of the 2016 National Championships was nowhere to be found. A light but steady overnight rain had fallen and greasy mud replaced what was primarily dirt and dust for the first race of the day, the Collegiate Men D2 event. Even as the riders stood on the grid, a very light drizzle was still falling.

At the start it was Robert Rimmer (King University) that led the 43 racers up the paved start and through the first turn. But within seconds Cooper Willsey (Furman University) moved from third wheel to the front of the race. And by the time Willsey reached the first off camber section leading to the first pass through the Bike Barn, he had a solid gap over chasers Andrew Lints (Rochester Institute of Technology) and Casey Hildebrandt (University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point).

https://youtu.be/HssmyPWkBKA

But there was a long way to go after Willsey's first lap of 8:13. Collegiate races are 50 minutes long and the anticipated 6 lap race came to be for the leaders. Despite the muddy course lap times were quick as the skies started to clear and the sun started to shine down on the riders.

Going into the second lap Willsey's lead was 17 seconds over Hildebrandt and 22 seconds over Lints. Rimmer was still near the leaders a further 8 seconds in arrears after his solid start. It appeared Willsey was on the move then, but at the end of lap two the lead was just 15 seconds and it seemed like the leaders might come back together.

It was on that second lap that Willsey had his one spot of bother. Passing a lapped rider on a descent there was some commotion of sorts and Willsey had resulting bike trouble. The apparent slow down for Willsey was due to a bike change, and a clean bike and a cool head kept him at the front. From there it was all Willsey, growing a lead that went from fewer than 20 seconds to 2:29 by the finish.

https://youtu.be/IBruXLQIBmA

Behind the hard charging Willsey it was carnage, even for the other podium finishers. Hildebrandt, Rimmer and Lints all chased, but each on his own as they were strung out in Willsey's wake. Somewhat quietly, Willsey's teammate Brendan Rhim rode to an impressive fifth place.

Willsey's squad at Furman University is school supported, and the program had 4 other riders in the mix aside from Willsey and Rhim, with Charlie Hough and Jake Thompson both riding into the top 20 in 13th and 17th, respectively.

Speaking with Willsey after the race he said his plan was to "start hard, but not blow up and create a gap so I wouldn't have to deal with anyone's mishaps and just build from there." Without a doubt, Willsey's collegiate race went to plan. He also said that he saved a little as he plans on lining up for Sunday's U23 race. With his dominating ride today, he's a rider to watch Sunday.

See Willsey's interview and see the full results, below.

https://youtu.be/-MUoZ6nkXAk

2016 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships Men's Collegiate D2 Full Results

Pl	Name	Team	Time
1	Cooper WILLSEY	Furman University	52:40.
2	Casey HILDEBRANDT	University of Wisconsin-Stevens	54:49.
3	Robert RIMMER	King University	55:09.
4	Andrew LINTS	Rochester Institute of Technolo	56:09.
5	Brendan RHIM	Furman University	56:42.
6	Michael LANDRY	Yale University	56:48.
7	Andrew BAILEY	Milligan College	57:38.
8	Ian GIELAR	Rochester Institute of Technolo	49:45.
9	Nolan TANKERSLEY	Milligan College	49:50.
10	Kyle ELLIS	King University	50:04.
11	Andrew GINIAT	DePaul University	51:04.
12	Tristan MANDERFELD	US Military Academy	51:43.
13	Charlie HOUGH	Furman University	52:42.
14	Kenneth DAILEY	US Military Academy	52:54.
15	Jon OKENFUSS	Washington University in St Lou	52:56.
16	Grayson BROOKSHIRE	Milligan College	53:32.
17	Jake THOMPSON	Furman University	43:44.
18	Robert LEESON	Warren Wilson College	43:44.
19	Andrew BALDWIN	Milligan College	43:50.
20	Andrew KOCH	University of Notre Dame	43:54.
21	Kevin WOOD	University of Massachusetts - D	44:18.
22	William GUILLEN	King University	44:26.
23	Andrew HALL	Furman University	44:37.
24	David BERG	Dartmouth College	44:46.
25	Zach HOSTETLER	Baylor University	44:49.
26	Nolan GARON	Wentworth Institute of Technolo	44:51.
27	Andrew ABBOTT	University of Louisiana-Lafayet	44:56.
28	Samuel MORKAL WILLIAMS	Warren Wilson College	45:26.
29	Connor REARDON	Rochester Institute of Technolo	45:31.
30	Brian SUTO	Furman University	45:39.
31	Fletcher LYDICK	Milligan College	45:59.
32	Daniel FORQUER	US Military Academy	34:58.
33	Anthony OTT	DePaul University	34:59.
34	Kenneth ENGLERT	US Military Academy	35:33.
35	Samuel WENTWORTH	Milligan College	35:46.
36	Adam RUFF	US Military Academy	36:12.
37	Mark ZALEWSKI	DePaul University	36:31.
38	Gregory COOPER	Prescott College	36:40.
39	Harris WAGNER	Warren Wilson College	36:44.
40	Daniel SERRANO	US Military Academy	37:11.
41	Erich MESQUITA LIMA	Mars Hill University	39:10.
42	Dillon HUVAL	University of Louisiana-Lafayet	26:58.
43	Ben CORK	Baylor University	27:38.

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