Cycling teams headed to Colo.

Over the weekend, Arizona defeated collegiate cycling teams from Northern Arizona University and Arizona State in Kingman, Ariz., earning the berth at nationals.

The regional championships were held as part of the Hualapai Stage Race, a three-day, four-event bicycle race.

The UA cycling team was represented in Kingman by eight men and four women. Senior Justin Peschka set the precedent for the men in Friday afternoon's first event. He was victorious in the 10-mile "time trial" - an individual race against the clock - with a time that would have earned him second place had he been racing in the professional division.

The men's team took five of the top six places in the first event, with their success continuing throughout the weekend. After four events, UA racers Peschka, Derek Hutton, Dan Dietzel, Jon Apprill and Jesse Pleger had secured the top five spots in the overall standings.

The UA women were surprised to find that NAU and ASU didn't send any women racers to compete. But it didn't matter, the weekend was still an excellent opportunity to test their fitness and teamwork.

Christine Mares blazed to victory in the first event on Friday afternoon. She was followed closely by her UA teammates Irene Pang, Paige Holm and Jennifer Bailey.

The teams have one month to make any final preparations before the stiff competition, including teams from Colorado, Stanford and Penn State., at nationals.