Less than a year ago Sarah Stroope was unwrapping her Christmas present ? a brand new Trek 6700 mountain bike.
Today, that gift coupled with the Oxford Middle School sixth-grader’s hard work, determination and pure heart have earned her top honors in three mountain bike competitions.
Most recently Sarah won first place in the ‘women 12 and under? division at the ?11th Annual Traverse-Northern Michigan’s Magazine Slush Cup,? on Nov. 6 in Kalkaska.
The eight-mile race is a smaller version of the 27-mile annual Subura Iceman Cometh Challenge, also in Kalkaska that same day.
Sarah wanted to race in the Slush Cup because her ‘whole family’s been doing the Iceman? for years and ‘it sounded like fun.?
To prepare for the Slush Cup, Sarah biked between 16 and 20 miles per week and competed in two other races.
‘She was gearing herself all year for that race,? said father Wayne Stroope.
In August, Sarah competed in the 4-mile ‘Junior Rock? race, part of the 5th Annual Subaru Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Epic in Marquette.
Not only did she win first place in the 10-11-year-old age division, she was second fastest female biker in the entire Junior Rock race. The fastest female biker beat Sarah by a mere 13 seconds, according to Wayne.
In September, Sarah competed in the Addison Oaks Fall Mountain Bike Challenge. She won third place in ‘first time racer category? at the 5?-mile competition.
Sarah’s top-three finish was quite astounding considering the first and second place winners in that category were two adult men.
When asked what her next goal is, Sarah replied, ‘To race in the Soft Rock.?
The Soft Rock is a 28-mile race that’s also part of the annual Subaru Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Epic.
Given her work ethic and positive attitude, this reporter has no doubt he will writing an article next year about Sarah’s astounding win in the Soft Rock.
Good luck Sarah.