From USA Cycling

Russell Finsterwald, a Coronado High School graduate, said a week ago that his legs felt strong.

He proved it on Sunday, riding to victory in the U23 Pan American Continental Mountain Bike Championships in Puebla, Mexico.

Finsterwald led a tough U.S. team that won four gold medals, two silvers and a bronze.

See recent video interview with Finsterwald

The weekend capped off on Sunday with Todd Wells (Durango, Colo./Specialized) winning the elite men’s cross country race. The lone American in the contest, Wells improved on his bronze medal performance in last year’s continental championships by soloing over the line to earn the victory ahead of second- and third-place finishers Andres Soto (ARG) and Rubens Valeriano (BRA).

Fernando Riveros Paez who rides for Bandwagon Racing in Colorado Springs, finished sixth in the men's elite race. He was in the hunt for the bronze medal when leg cramps forced him to slow down.   

Finsterwald (Colorado Springs, Colo./Subaru-Trek) crossed the finish line a minute ahead of his nearest competitors to take the win for the U.S. Joining him on the podium was fellow American Kerry Werner (Banner Elk, N.C.BMC MTB Dev. Team) with the bronze medal. The silver went to Colombian Diyer Rincon.

Sunday’s triumphs followed a very successful Saturday that saw Grace Alexander (Boise, Idaho/BMC MTB Dev. Team) and Jacqueline Harmony (Sedona, Ariz.) claim continental titles while compatriots Keegan Swenson (Park City, Utah/Cannondale Factory Racing) and Neko Mulally (Reading, Pa./Trek World Racing) each rode to silver medals. Read the complete story about Saturday’s races here.