For those of you that are not familiar with Track Cycle Racing, the track is called a velodrome which is french. The word velo is short for velocipede or cycle. The track where E J and Leah ride is 333.3 meters as measured around the black line (bottom of track), and it is made of concrete. Three laps around the track is one kilometer. At it's steepest points, the track is banked at 28 degrees. The bicycles are fixed gear and have no brakes. Additionally, the rider is straped to the pedals with the use of toe cages and straps.

On Friday May 31st the Finals of the Bicycle Racing League were held in front of the opening night crowd at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome. Leah Papsun raced in the 10-13 year age B group. The race was a three lap scratch race. The riders left the wall and stayed in a close pack as required, awaiting the starters pistol. Leah positioned herself just below the blue line (track center), and a little back of the leaders where she had the ability to react should anyone make a move. They got the starting gun in the second turn and the race was on. By turn three of the first lap Leah was in fourth place just behind the leaders and still above the sprinter's lane. She stayed in this position through laps one and two. On the bell lap she maintained her position as the pack began to sprint. On the back stretch just before turn three she moved past the rider immediately in front of her, dropped into the sprinter's lane (bottom of track), and continued to power through turn four on the wheel of the rider in second place. She sprinted down the home stretch and pulled pass the rider in second place just before the line, clinching a second place finish and taking home the silver medal.

"Leah Papsun, Silver Medalist" Bicycle Racing League Lehigh Valley Velodrome Trexlertown, PA May 31, 2002

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