FORT COLLINS, Colorado - The Marian College cycling team opened day two of the USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championship sitting in ninth place after the road races on Friday.

 

The Knights jumped a spot into eighth place after the criterium stage of the weekend.

 

Freshman Sinead Miller (South Park, Pennsylvania/South Park) became the first female rider in Marian College histoy to earn a national championship in a road competition. Miller edged out the runner-up to pick up her first championship and lead the women in the A criterium on Saturday.

 

Senior Mallory Burrows (Greenwood, Indiana/Center Grove) picked up valuable points with an 18th-place finish, while senior Sierra Siebenlist (Indianola, Iowa/Indianola) finished in 25th place.

 

Junior Rebecca Finley (Des Moines, Iowa/Home-schooled) finished in 32nd place to round out the women's event.

 

In the men's A criterium, freshman Joe Kukolla (Indianapolis/Heritage Christian) was the team's top finisher after he picked up a 20th-place finish. Freshman Adam Leibovitz (Indianapolis/Lawrence Central) finished in 56th place, while senior David Williams (Grand Rapids, Michigan/Catholic Central) finished in 67th place.

 

Sophomore Alex Wieseler (Oconomowoc, Wisconsin/Arrowhead) finished in 83rd place to round out the event.

 

The Knights will look to the team time trial on Sunday in an attempt to pick up its first-ever road national championship in Fort Collins, Colorado.