Garth Blackburn's Biography

GARTH BLACKBURN

Picture of Garth Blackburn and Matt King competing in the Match Sprints at the 1999 Elite Nationals in Trexlertown, Pa.

Garth Blackburn and Matt King competing at the 1999 Elite Nationals, Trexlertown, Pa.

Name: Garth Blackburn

Sport: Tandem Captain for Matt King 1998 - 1999

(USCF Category: Track 1 (elite) Road 2 (expert)

Team: Coastal Cycling Team

Residence: Houston, Texas

Hometown: Houston, Texas

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 215 lbs.

DOB: 08/31/77, Lubbock, Texas

Education: Exercise Science Major, University of Houston Honors College

Occupation: Cycling Coach and Student

About Garth: 1995 graduate from Lamar High School's International Baccalaureate Program and Magnet School of Business Administration in Houston, Texas current student at University of Houston Honors College and coaches youth cyclists … developed and implemented Youth Cycling League at Alkek Velodrome (Houston) … teamed with blind cyclist Matt King to win a silver medal in the men's match sprints at the Disabled World Track Cycling Championships in Colorado Springs (1998) … named 1995 Senior Male Rider of the Year at Alkek Velodrome ...to become first junior to win that award ... three-time Junior Male Rider of the Year (1992-94) and two-time Senior Male Rider of the Year (1998-99) at Alkek Velodrome ... won three gold medals at senior level and eight medals at junior level in regional track championships from 1992-95 ... suffered separated shoulder in crash at 1995 Junior Worlds ... helped team win two junior high school state titles in soccer ... started cycling in 1990 lists seven-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis as his most admired athlete.

Competition Highlights:

2000 {as of 22 May}
U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Track Cycling (Frisco, Texas): fourth, match sprint, Keirin; 15th, Olympic Sprint
EDS Track Cup #1 (San Jose, Calif.): fourth, Keirin; sixth, points race; 15th, scratch race
Copa Cuba Invitataional (Havana): first, Olympic Sprint; seventh, match sprint
Barbados Grand Prix: first, points race, 2,000m scratch race; third, 500m time trial; fifth, Olympic Sprint

1999
EDS Elite National Track Cycling Championships (Trexlertown, Pa.): third, Olympic Sprint; fifth, match sprint; eighth, tandem sprint; ninth, Keirin
EDS Track Cup #2 (Frisco, Texas): second, Olympic Sprint; fourth, Miss & Out; ninth, Keirin
EDS Track Cup #1 (San Jose, Calif.): ninth, Keirin; 10th, Miss & Out
EDS Track Cup standings: 18th, endurance

1998
Disabled World Track Cycling Championships (Colorado Springs, Colo.): second, blind tandem
EDS Elite National Track Cycling Championships (Frisco, Texas): third tandem sprint; third, Keirin; seventh, match sprint
EDS Track Cup (Colorado Springs, Colo.): fourth, match sprint; sixth, Olympic Sprint; seventh, Keirin

1997
EDS Elite National Track Cycling Championships (Colorado Springs, Colo.): fourth, Olympic sprint; sixth, Keirin
Copa Intercontinental (Havana, Cuba): first, Olympic sprint; fourth, Keirin
EDS Track Cup (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.): third, team pursuit; fourth, Keirin; sixth, Madison
EDS Track Cup (Indianapolis, Ind.): third, Olympic sprint; fourth, match sprint; fifth, Keirin
EDS Track Cup (San Diego, Calif.): fourth, Keirin
EDS Track Cup (Houston): fifth, match sprint, Olympic sprint; sixth, Madison, Keirin;seventh, points race
EDS Track Cup rankings: 14th, sprint

1996
EDS Elite National Track Cycling Championships: second, Olympic sprint; fifth, Keirin, Madison; 15th, national championship points race
Regional Cup (Houston): first, under-23
Palo Seco International Games (Trinidad): second, 15km scratch race
Easter International Cycling Grand Prix (Trinidad): second, Olympic sprint, one-lap scratch race, 15km scratch race

1995
Junior World Track Cycling Championships (San Marino, Italy): team member
Fresca Junior Track Cycling Championships (Houston): second, match sprint (17-18); fourth, kilometer time trial

1994
USCF Junior National Track Cycling Championships (Seattle): fifth, match sprint (17-18)

1993
USCF Junior National Track Cycling Championships (Trexlertown, Pa.): fourth, omnium (15-16)