Kenda Athletes Capture Four Top-Five Finishes at USA Cycling National Championships
Headlining the weekend was the Women's XC Marathon National Championship, where Kenda athletes claimed four of the top five finishing positions, demonstrating the speed, traction, and confidence of the K-Series cross-country lineup on one of the most technical marathon courses in the country.
Throughout the championship weekend, riders trusted the K-Series Rush, K-Series Karma, and K-Series Dagger to perform over steep sustained climbs, rocky and root-filled singletrack, loose technical descents, and humid summer conditions. Despite the demanding terrain, the women's race was completed approximately 20–30 minutes faster than the previous year, highlighting the increasingly competitive level of marathon racing in the United States.
Four of the Top Five Finishers Ride Kenda
The Women's XC Marathon National Championship was a showcase for Kenda athletes, with Deanna Mayles, Hannah Otto, Crystal Anthony, and Emma Langley claiming four of the top five finishing positions while demonstrating the performance advantages of the K-Series XC lineup on one of the most technical marathon courses in the country.
🥈 Deanna Mayles — 2nd Place
Racing on the K-Series Rush, Deanna selected a lightweight, low-pressure setup of 14 psi front and 16 psi rear, allowing the tires to conform to Roanoke's demanding terrain while maintaining exceptional climbing efficiency.
The combination provided predictable handling through loose rock gardens, root-covered singletrack, and fast technical descents, helping Deanna secure an impressive runner-up finish.
"I ran the Kenda Rush at 14 psi front and 16 psi rear. It handled the technical, rocky and rooty singletrack really well, giving me the grip I needed on the descents while still climbing efficiently."
🥉 Hannah Otto — 3rd Place
Defending National Champion Hannah Otto added another impressive result to her resume, earning her fourth consecutive podium finish at the USA Cycling XC Marathon National Championships.
After moving from third into the race lead midway through the event, Hannah battled throughout the remainder of the race before ultimately securing third place.
Her focus throughout the race was maximizing momentum and efficiency on every section of the course.
"At Nationals every corner counts. My mantra on the day was focusing on finding all the seconds that add up. I was focused on exit speed, carrying momentum through the corners, and accelerating up and over every climb. I could feel the speed from the KENDA Rush tires, digging in when I needed it and rolling fast when it counted."
Following the race, Hannah reflected on what another National Championship podium meant to her.
"Standing on the podium at a National Championship is something I'll never take for granted. This year's race challenged me in every way, and I'm proud of how I stayed committed, adapted throughout the day, and fought for every position. You better believe I'm more motivated than ever to take it back next year."
Her performance once again demonstrated the confidence and efficiency of the K-Series Rush when every second matters.
4th — Crystal Anthony
Crystal Anthony added another outstanding result to Kenda's Marathon National Championship performance, finishing 4th after a strong and consistent ride aboard the K-Series Rush XC 2.4.
The demanding 53-mile course featured more than 7,000 feet of climbing, combining flowing singletrack, technical rocky descents, punchy climbs, and classic East Coast-style root-filled terrain. With dry conditions this year, the course rewarded riders who could balance speed, traction, and efficiency.
Crystal found the K-Series Rush XC 2.4 provided exactly that balance throughout the race.
After riding with fellow Kenda athlete Hannah Otto for more than an hour during the opening stages of the race, Crystal settled into a strong solo effort to the finish, setting personal records on nearly every segment of the course.
"The Kenda Rush XC 2.4 had the perfect balance of grip and speed for this course. I rode with Hannah Otto for the first hour of the race before settling into my own pace to finish fourth. I PR'd almost every segment of the course and felt the setup was great."
Her fourth-place finish in the marathon marked the beginning of an exceptional National Championship weekend, as Crystal went on to earn bronze medals in both the XCC Short Track and XCO Cross-Country National Championships against some of the strongest riders in the country.
5th — Emma Langley
Competing in her first-ever USA Cycling XC Marathon National Championship, Emma Langley delivered an outstanding 5th-place finish aboard a K-Series Karma 2.4 front and K-Series Dagger 2.4 rear combination.
After preriding the course, Emma opted for the more aggressive setup to increase confidence through Roanoke's rocky singletrack and technical descents without sacrificing climbing speed.
The decision paid off with one of the strongest rides of the weekend.
"I was really pleased with my race day setup—Karma 2.4 in the front and Dagger 2.4 in the rear. I had the extra confidence that I needed for where I struggle (technical sections) and was not held back at all where I excel (power sections). It was an awesome experience to race my first XCM National Championships and come away with a 5th place finish behind some of the best mountain bike racers in the country!"
Emma completed the demanding course without a puncture or mechanical issue, further demonstrating the versatility and reliability of the K-Series Karma and K-Series Dagger combination on highly technical marathon terrain.
Women's XCC & XCO Nationals
Crystal Anthony Earns Two National Championship Podiums
Crystal Anthony capped off an exceptional championship weekend by earning bronze medals in both the Women's XCC Short Track (XCC) and Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) National Championships, proving the versatility of both rider and equipment across two distinctly different race formats.
🥉 XCC Short Track National Championship
The fast-paced XCC course featured an urban park setting with a cyclocross feel, combining grass, pavement, cobbles, off-camber corners, and a technical rock garden. Racing aboard the K-Series Rush XC 2.4, Crystal increased tire pressure slightly to maximize rolling efficiency on the pavement while maintaining dependable traction through the off-camber grass sections and technical features.
Despite getting caught behind an incident in the opening lap, Crystal fought her way back to the lead group before securing a hard-earned third-place finish.
"I ran the Rush XC 2.4 at 18.5 psi front and 19.5 psi rear because of all the pavement. Even with a bit more pressure I had plenty of traction for the off camber and had no issues."
🥉 XCO National Championship
Crystal carried that momentum into the XCO National Championship, once again racing the K-Series Rush XC 2.4 to another bronze medal on a demanding three-mile circuit featuring punchy climbs, flowing singletrack, off-camber turns, and countless roots that demanded both precision and confidence.
From the start, Crystal's strategy was to stay with the race leaders for as long as possible before creating separation from the chase group. She successfully executed her race plan, remaining with the front riders longer than anyone else before establishing a decisive gap over fourth place through smooth descending and aggressive climbing.
The K-Series Rush XC 2.4 delivered the speed and predictable traction needed to confidently attack the steep climbs and slippery off-camber sections throughout the race. Although Crystal discovered her rear tire had lost air after crossing the finish line, no puncture was found, and the tire performed flawlessly throughout the race.
"My goal was to stay with Savilia and Gwen as long as possible and hopefully get a gap on the other racers. Once another rider caught me near the end of the first lap, I attacked immediately and was able to build my gap little by little each lap. The Kenda Rush XC 2.4 gave me the traction I needed on the off-camber sections and the confidence to attack every climb while staying smooth through the descents."
By the end of the weekend, Crystal had earned three top-four finishes, including 4th in the XC Marathon National Championship and bronze medals in both the XCC and XCO National Championships, making her one of Kenda's top performers at the 2026 USA Cycling National Championships.
K-Series Performance Proven at Nationals
From the explosive pace of the Short Track National Championship to the endurance and technical demands of the Marathon and Olympic Cross-Country events, Kenda athletes relied on the K-Series Rush, K-Series Karma, and K-Series Dagger to perform at the highest level.
The weekend's results speak for themselves:
- Four of the top five finishers in the Women's XC Marathon National Championship rode Kenda.
- Crystal Anthony earned two additional National Championship podium finishes in XCC and XCO.
- Multiple K-Series tire combinations delivered race-winning speed, predictable handling, and exceptional durability across every cross-country discipline.
Whether climbing steep fire roads, navigating technical rock gardens, or carrying speed through demanding singletrack, the K-Series Premium Performance lineup once again proved it is engineered for riders competing at the highest levels of mountain bike racing.
Congratulations to Deanna Mayles, Hannah Otto, Crystal Anthony, and Emma Langley on an incredible National Championship weekend. Your performances continue to demonstrate the confidence, speed, and reliability that define the K-Series Premium Performance lineup.
