Oregonians excel at 2009 Sea Otter Classic's weekend of racing

A strong contingent of Oregon racers left its mark at Laguna Seca Raceway during this weekend's Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, Calif.

Juniors Austin Arguello and Wes Stein (Hammer/CMG Racing) won both junior road races at the national-caliber event. Arguello won Friday's circuit race in a five-up sprint with his breakaway companions. Stein walked away with the win in Sunday's road race. Arguello finished 15th. Their Hammer/CMG teammate Marcel DeLisser finished 47th in the Friday Pro/1/2 road race won by Tour of California champ and Euro-pro deluxe Levi Leipheimer.

Portland's Kelly Benjamin (Colavita Sutter Home) won the Friday Women's Pro/1/2 criterium and finished fifth in Saturday's circuit race.

Hood River's Karsten Hagen has been tearing it up, finishing fourth in the Thursday 35/45+ criterium after making it into a five-rider break that gained more than 90 seconds on the chasers. He also nabbed a fourth-place finish in Friday's Masters 35+ 1/2/3 circuit race, finishing 2:30 behind the leader.

Land Rover-Orbea has been having a go in the pro men's races, placing sprinter Roman Van Uden in sixth place at Thurday's criterium. Evan Elken finished 14th. The team placed Van Uden, Elken and Carson Miller 20th, 21st and 22nd respectively in Saturday's circuit race, which saw their teammate Aaron Tuckerman help initiate the day's first serious move.

Bend's MTB Crowd Cashes In

On the mountain bike, the Bend delegation has been making its presence felt. Carl Decker (Team Giant), who recently won the Horning's Hustle Cross Country race in North Plains, won the Pro Men's event at Friday's Super D. Then Decker finished third in Saturday's Pro Men's Short Track event behind Olympian Todd Wells (Specialized). Bend resident and National Cyclocross Champion Ryan Trebon (Kona) finished sixth. Cody Peterson (Dedicated Athlete) finished 20th in the race. Portland's Erik Tonkin (Kona) finished 27th. Jason Sager (Jamis) finished 47th, and Steve Carwille came in 64th.

In the men's Pro cross country race Sunday, Decker finished ninth, Tonkin crossed the line 16th, Aaron Olson came in 17th, and Bend's Chris Sheppard (Jamis) finished 19th. Team S&M's Sean Babcock finished 29th, and Ben Thomson (Cannondale Factory Racing) came in 36th.

Portland's Sue Butler (Monavie/Cannondale) finished 20th in the Pro Women's Short Track race and 16th in Sunday's cross country race. Hood River's Alice Pennington (Veloforma) finished 20th in the Pro Women's XC race. Bend's Kirt Voreis took 15th in the Pro Men's Dual Slalom on Saturday and 19th in Sunday's SRAM downhill.