Juniors Only Criterium

A junior racing team from NE Ohio put on their first Jr only criterium. (a short circuit style race as apposed to a long road race) A .6 mile loop around a closed course. Cameron doesn't have much crit experience so this was perfect. Thank goodness Cam's friend Ryan showed up or it would have been pretty boring as the turnout was low.


This is the start of the 10-12boys/girls


Cam and Ryan worked closely together for over half the race, then a shaky rider got between them in a corner and Ryan attacked and it was the beginning of the end for Cameron :(

But good enough for 2nd place!

They are both characters

The awards were presented a few minutes after the 10-12 race ended and then the 13-14 group took off and look who jumped in....

They wisely let the older kid do the majority of the pulls

2 laps to go the older rider attacked and then proceeded to crash in a corner. Ryan and Cameron took off. He managed to get back on his bike and in the last lap he chased down and passed Cameron and was closing in on Ryan but Ry beat him to the line.

Back in the saddle

Cameron didn't appear nervous at all to race again. I have to admit I had to hide my nervousness from him. This was the Indiana State Road Championships. Unlike Ohio they do not separate the junior riders into respective age groups (except for scoring). They were all together and rode with the Cat 5 riders which did nothing to calm my nerves as Cat 5's are pretty sketchy riders. Fortunately the 5's broke away from them after about 7 miles. This was Cameron's longest race so far, 29 miles. Pancake flat, hot, and windy. This is Cameron checking on his competition and sprinting it out for 2nd and 3rd.

The 1st place finisher actually stayed with the 5's. He was from Michigan. So the 3rd place finisher was the true Indiana State Champion

The Comeback

The stitches came out on July5th and the wounds looked good but were still too soft and tender to jump back in the pool so he jumped back on the indoor bike trainer instead !?!?!?! He patiently waited until the 11th to get in the water. He had his first meet two days later on the 13th and swam his personal best in the 50 freestyle. So, he has a traumatic 3 weeks off and comes back and swims better than before the accident, who does that?????????


Here he is at the Mid-Ohio Swim League Championships ,7/27, at the start of the 50 backstroke. He took 1st place!

The Recovery Continues

5 weeks post and the shoulder is finally just a superficial wound.

Five weeks post injury and looking better every day. It's going to be quite a scar. Good thing boys have hairy legs!

A few days after the stitches came out. (Two weeks post injury) Still a little icky looking but a far cry from the hole!!

Begining the recovery

Cameron started his recovery by getting up the next morning and going to the race course to support his friend Ryan
(#565)


He was exhausted but happy to be there

On the way home we took the BlueRidge Parkway for quite a ways and the scenic overlooks were a good place to stop and let Cam walk out the stiffness. Mom was not so happy when he followed her and Caleb down a short trail and onto an outcropping of rocks. "you don't expect me to just sit here, do you"...well, yes, I did!

Breaking Out

Discharged after 30 hours in the hospital. He successfully kept down a meal and went through a session of physical therapy to earn his wings, ie crutches. Why is the nurse smiling and Cameron is not??? Who is happy that he is leaving????

USA Cycling Jr. National Championships

Day One: Staging for the boys 10-12 road race

And they're off...
a large field of 36



And the next time we saw Cameron he looked like this....

this is his right shoulder

This is a hole above his right knee. It was ~1 1/2 x 1 inch and deep enough to see the quadraceps tendon. Fortunately it did not reach the bone so he avoided surgical debridement and just got stitches instead.

A hematoma on the right side of his head from the helmet bought him an overnight stay in the hospital

A terrible way to end what was set to be a very exciting day for Cameron. We are just so grateful he is Ok and will be on the mend very soon!!