The cycling BMX squad found great success at the Sunshine State Nationals January 14-16 at Okeeheelee BMX in West Palm Beach, Florida. 

One of the biggest accomplishments of the weekend for the Lions came on Saturday when Joey Leto made the Pro Men A Main and finished fifth.  He finished behind event winner Joris Daudet, a three-time Olympian from France, two-time Elite Men's World Champion, and four-time USA BMX number one pro.  Second place went to Joshua McLean, an Australian Pro BMX racer.  Reigning Olympic Champion, reigning World Champion, and Dutch National Team member Niek Kimmann took third, followed by Romain Mahieu from France who finished sixth at the Tokyo Olympics.

Head Coach Julie Carter emphasized the enormity of what Leto did.

"Our boy Joey finishing fifth on Saturday and was the top American in the race," she said.  "We couldn't be more proud of what this entire team is accomplishing already this season!  We look forward to seeing how Sooner Nationals goes in a few weeks as our final tuning and qualifying race before Collegiate BMX Nationals."

Competition began on Friday with the amateur pre-race and National for the Pro class.  Cooper Bromley's class was combined with 17-20 Expert, the most competitive class outside of Pro.  He advanced to the Main and finished third.

In the 17-20 Women's Expert event, Megan Dudgeon finished first, followed by Florencia Haupt in second.  Franck Bock took third in the 17-30 Novice class.
Leto raced in Pro Men and finished fifth in his semi, which advanced him to the B Main, where he took third.

In other action on Saturday, Bromley finished second in 21-25 Expert, while Dudgeon took fourth in 17-20 Women's Expert.  Haupt did not advance to the Main for the day.  Bock finished fourth in the 17-30 Intermediate class.

On Sunday, Bromley won his Main in 21-25 Expert.  Dudgeon made the Main and finished sixth in 17-20 Women's Expert, but Haupt did not make the Main.  Bock made his Main in 16-25 Intermediate and took fourth.  Leto made the Main and finished seventh in the UCI Elite Men's class.

Okeeheelee BMX featured a longer than average track with a fun and technical layout.  The total length of the amateur track is 1,300 feet while the pro length is slightly longer at 1,340 feet.  It's the only BMX race track in Palm Beach County and is ranked as the number one track in the eastern U.S. and in Florida, and is also ranked as one of the top tracks in the entire country.

The Lindenwood BMX cycling squad will next travel for Sooner Nationals February 11-13 at Expo Square's Ford Truck Arena in Tulsa, Oklahoma.