Written By: John Gill

www.cjbmx.com

The 2009 edition of the IronMan was held in the rain, like the rest of the season, on December 13th, 2009 at Central Jersey BMX in Howell, New Jersey. In no class was this more obvious than in 5 rookie.  Brian the medic had work pushing the athletes through pea soup mud with the result being Will Sawyer winning the helmet over Xander Dale, Nate Moen, beautiful Sydney Groen, Sammy Feinstein, Aiden Badendyck, Colin Smith and Alexander Bouer.  In 6 rookie the class navigated the course without assistance.  Daniel Muller taking the helmet after a battle with Jared Kulp, Avery Badendyk, Joe Smith and Matt Bauer.  The 7 year old class was loaded with Zack Maher taking the honors ahead of Mitch McKee, Tricky Nick Stephanic, Nick Swartz, and Mariano Dinardo.

In 8 rookie, birthday boy Joe Troiano shook up the class with Greg Cordasco and Liam Donahue. Devin Kusmider came back to BMX for the day and a new helmet in a class with Jackson Declerick, Rob Bandoy Jr, Nick Oshiro, Joe Croft, Jake ‘Big Brother’ Sawyer, Cole Mullen and Jason Ling.  It is important to note that this was one of several full gates held in pouring rain and thick mud without incident.  Eric Mcmahon kept a helmet in Howell ahead of Ryan Hawkins and Johanna Cordasco.

In 11 rookie Hunter Brink took the lid back to PA  despite a challenge from Vincent Nizzardini.  Jaegger Fauerbach was the only 12 rookie to brave the weather and Kevin Haren lead the way over Connor McIntyre and Nick Lombardi in 14 rookie.  Mike Kuder and Matt Benazic both will sport FLY helmets in 15 and 16 rookie.  In mature beginners Christian Dale won a helmet over Ron Mullen and Mason Price.

In big wheels mountain bikes may have made sense on Sunday.  Doug Hoven piloted his blue-rimmed bike to a helmet over Aiden Timmons in young men.  Kevin Lauer used his skating skills to win over Derek DePalma.  Eduardo Ramirez and Austin Modell both took home the hardware.  35 to 39 cruiser had one of the anticipated battles with Dan Mleczko piloting #1 in front of Mark Smith, Keith Ridenour, Jay ‘CC’ Kusmider, Robert Wanless, and Jeff Sawyer.

Jeff Badendyck outpaced ‘Motorcycle’ Mike Kulp, Matt Hadfield and Mr Dinardo. In the Sr set cat and mouse action led the way with Jeff Heath over Rich Layer while Dieter Ward and Keith Enderson finished out the class.  In women on big wheels Lexxy Hadfield sped to a win over Meredith Lidstone and Heather Havens.

Our experience classes include Kyle Hill at 5N racing right behind Reilly Ryan, Aidan Timmons and Doug Hoven, Kyle and Reilly took the helmets.  Ronnie Burwan led the 7N’s John Gill, Tim Sadenwhite, and Shane Hampson. In 8 novice action Derrick Maher took home a helmet in front of Liam Dineen and Riley Radcliff.  The boys with the Irish names thought the weather was soft.

In 11N 12N, Dakota Austin held off Ian Blabac and Sean Petrow.  In 14 Novice 367 raced in front of Billy Sunderman and James Austin. Tommy “the Dominator” Donahue brought the hammer and took class with Paul Ling, and Eric Yuhas.  In 40+ Rich “Big” Block took his helmet to Newtown in front of Enrick Benazic and Jason Davis.

In girls 20 action Payton ‘Peanut’ Ridenour earned her second top spot of the day over Jena Sagendorf and Emma Benedict. Cassidy Cox and Cheyenne Noud took their helmets over Chelsea Moser and Olivia Longo.  In women’s racing Desiree Sagendorf and Krysta Zbikowski took home FLY protection over Tina ‘beer me’ O’Sullivan.

Expert and combined racers were racing in something different in modern BMX, 3 inch deep mud. Gabe Hatem lead Jeff Eletto, Noah Roark Jake Bryson and Anthony Feinstein in 9X.  In 10 experienced combined Luigi took the top spot over Kevin Lauer, Nick Leon and Ryan Bourke.  Nick Leon took a helmet for 10 N.  In 12, 13 expert Ant “AntLow’ Catlow and Justin Knapper took the top spots.  Lenny Hicks brought some history with the #1 plate from the 1981 IronMan to round out this group in front of Ryan Cohen and Austin Modell.  Victor Behm put down his shovel for the day to win in 15 experienced over Evan Eisenhard.  Mitchell Aman took home the helmet racing with the experts as a 15 Novice.  In 16 year old racing Oscar Ruiz lead Dan Forte, Matt Bonnett, and Pat Cordaro.  Oscar and Dan Forte both won their classes.  In Expert Men Timmy Sullivan lead the way with Chris Aman and Scott Doland.

In special racing the weather kept some of the pit bikes in the cars,  Dan Smith, Nick Leon and John Gill had some fun riding their 16 in and park bikes on the soupy track.  Jeremy Knapper won the Ironman Open.