Colorado Springs, CO – May 11, 2025—The roar of the wheels and the focused intensity of competition returned to the Colorado Springs Velodrome on April 11th as the COS Racing team participated in the first sprint night of the season, which not only featured quality racing but also resulted in a world-record-beating time. Three determined riders, Laith Abbas, Andrea Villaroman, and the seasoned Charlotte Miller, represented the local squad. The team also benefited from crucial trackside support and encouragement from Chris Murphy and Erica Otero.
By Charlotte Miller, with Google Gemini Assist
The evening's events kicked off with the flying 200-meter time trials, a solo burst of speed that sets the stage for the sprint competitions. Laith Abbas powered through the timed effort, clocking in at 12.12 seconds. While his sights were set on breaking the 12-second barrier, his time provided a solid foundation for the night's racing. For Andrea Villaroman, this event marked her inaugural competitive attempt at the flying 200 meters, and she delivered a promising 12.65-second performance, signaling a promising sprinting future.
Adding to the excitement, veteran COS Racing member Charlotte Miller, drawing on her extensive track experience, delivered an exceptional time trial performance. Clocking in at a blistering 13.83 seconds, Charlotte remarkably surpassed the current world record of 13.911 seconds for women in the 70-74 age category! This incredible feat set a high bar for the evening's competition.
The action then transitioned to the tactical battles of the round-robin sprint matches. Riders were strategically grouped into quartets based on their qualifying times, ensuring tightly fought, wheel-to-wheel racing. Laith Abbas navigated his group with skill, ultimately securing a strong third-place finish. His decisive final sprint saw him execute a powerful acceleration, creating a gap that his opponent couldn't close.
Andrea Villaroman continued to impress in the sprint rounds, demonstrating a keen ability to learn and adapt her racing tactics. She showcased impressive efforts to come around her competitors in the crucial final turn, powering to strong finishes down the velodrome's home straight. Her final sprint of the night was a particularly hard-fought battle, resulting in a close second-place finish in her group.
However, the cooler temperatures of the evening appeared to hinder Charlotte Miller's performance in the sprint rounds. Despite her earlier record-breaking time trial, she struggled to find her rhythm in the head-to-head races, unfortunately losing her matches. Despite this setback, her earlier achievement and competitive spirit suggest a stronger showing in warmer conditions later in the season at their home track.
Overall, the first sprint night at the Colorado Springs Velodrome proved to be a successful outing for the COS Racing team. With personal bests, near misses, and a potential world record, the event provided an exciting glimpse into the team's potential as the velodrome season unfolds.
