Race Across AMerica : Boyer Holds a 27-Mile Lead Over Secrest After Seventh Day

For the second consecutive day, Jonathan Boyer continues to lead all cyclists after the seventh day of competition of the coast-to-coast bicycling Race Across AMerica.

Boyer, 29, of Pebble Beach, passed Michael Secrest on Friday afternoon and maintained a slight lead throughout Saturday’s competition. Late Saturday evening, Boyer passed through Newport, Tenn., having covered 2,333 miles of the race, averaging 15.2 miles per hour throughout.

From Newport there are 787 miles to go to the finish at Atlantic City, N.J., meaning that there is approximately three days of racing left before the first cyclist crosses the finish line.

And, at the rate that the top two cyclists are going, the winner should set a race record by a small margin.

One notable rules change for this year’s race is that all cyclists cross the finish line within 48 hours after the winner to be an official finisher. Previously, all cyclists had to be within 36 hours of the leader at the Mississippi River, but that rule was changed for this race.

Trailing Boyer by 27 miles--considered a slight distance given the overall length of the race--is the 32-year old Secrest of Flint, Mich. Secrest has averaged 15 m.p.h. through his seven days of racing.

In third place was Michael Shermer of Hollywood, 201 miles off of the lead, followed by Shelby Hayden-Clifton who was 286 miles out of first place.

Hayden-Clifton, of Greensboro, N.C., was also the leader in the women’s category, averaging 13.3 miles per hour, putting her 43 miles ahead of Susan Notorangelo of St. Louis, second among women and fifth overall.

Third place in the women’s division and seventh overall was Elaine Mariolle of Berkeley, who was 387 miles behind Boyer through Saturday. Mariolle is averaging 12.7 miles per hour.

Rob Templin of San Diego was 10th overall and seventh in the men’s division, averaging 12.4 miles per hour.

Also averaging 12.4 miles per hour was Jim Penseyres, who was eighth in the men’s division and 11th overall after Saturday’s racing.