Ocean Spray and the Valley Preferred Cycling Center Honor Mandy Marquardt

October 26, 2020

Olympic Hopeful Shatters National Record in Kilo

BREINIGSVILLE, Pennsylvania, October 26th, 2020.  The 2020 track racing season at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center, like so many other aspects of daily life, was interrupted and impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic but that did not stop local athlete and Olympic Long Team athlete, Mandy Marquardt from keeping her eye on the prize. She blazed to a new national record in the Standing Kilo, bettering her own Track Record and the National Record by three seconds, stopping the clock at 1:08.694 (52.4kph) on the final day of racing at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center’s “Ocean Spray Time Trials at TTown” Series on August 29^th.  Marquardt’s record was officially certified by USA Cycling on October 5^th, 2020 and the achievement recognized by senior Ocean Spray representatives and members of the velodrome community in a jersey presentation ceremony held on October 14^th.

Valley Preferred Cycling Center Executive Director, Joan Hanscom, said “this was a challenging season for us. We are incredibly fortunate to have had the support of Ocean Spray this summer which enabled us to keep racing going safely under these strange and stressful circumstances. That we were able to continue to offer athletes of all ability levels the opportunity to compete when so many other events were cancelled was incredibly rewarding to us as an organization and we are thankful to Ocean Spray for helping make it all possible. To see Mandy – and others – not just compete but seize the opportunity to shatter the national record at the end of this season proved that true champions find a way. It was thrilling to witness.”

Marquardt, upon receiving her honorary Ocean Spray jersey, said, “Speaking for myself and the Edge Cycling athletes that I train and compete with – we are so appreciative that The Valley Preferred Cycling Center put on the Ocean Spray TTs at T-Town over the summer and managed to make it all happen for us in these unprecedented times. I think now it’s almost more meaningful, that out of a period that was really challenging, personally, something great came from it. Bettering the national record by three seconds was really motivating as I continue this big block of training. This is the year to really lay down all the groundwork for 2021 and hopefully beyond to 2024!”

Chad Hammerly, Ocean Spray Plant Director, presented the jersey and said “Ocean Spray was delighted to sponsor the Time Trial events this season. Our whole goal in partnering with the velodrome was to find a great way of giving back to our community and provide opportunities for these amazing athletes. We want to give a special congratulations to Mandy for staying focused and motivated through the summer to break the record this season on her home track. We wish her the best of luck in her quest to represent the USA in the 2021 Olympic games. Ocean Spray operates nearly 20 cranberry receiving and processing facilities and has more than 2,000 employees worldwide – has 195 employees in the Lehigh Valley working here in the shadow of the velodrome. It’s great to support something so close to home!”

Also present at the ceremony was Mike Miller, and Ocean Spray sponsored athlete and multi-time national champion in his own right. Honoring Marquardt was his idea and one heartily embraced by the velodrome. “What a great thing to see come out of what could have been a complete wash of a season. Mandy continued to put her head down and do the work, she kept focused on her long-term goals and didn’t let the short-term interruption derail her ambitions. It’s incredibly motivating to me as an athlete and I am proud of her, our hometown track and honored to be part of Ocean Spray family that helped make it possible. It’s important to stay positive, focus on the good things that are happening in our community and this is surely one of those things!”

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About Ocean Spray: Ocean Spray is a vibrant agricultural cooperative owned by more than 700 cranberry growers in the United States, Canada and Chile who have helped preserve the family farming way of life for generations. Formed in 1930, Ocean Spray is now the world’s leading producer of cranberry juices, juice drinks and dried cranberries and is the best-selling brand in the North American bottled juice category. The cooperative’s cranberries are currently featured in more than a thousand great-tasting, good-for-you products in over 100 countries worldwide. With more than 2,000 employees and nearly 20 cranberry receiving and processing facilities, Ocean Spray is committed to managing our business in a way that respects our communities, employees and the environment. Our Lehigh Valley factory employs 195 people and produces 42% of the all the beverages produced for the US Market in this plant. For more information visit: www.oceanspray.com or www.oceanspray.coop.

About the Valley Preferred Cycling Center: The Valley Preferred Cycling Center, also known as T-Town, is one of the most renowned and beloved tracks in the world and has been home to the best field of international cycling competitors each summer for the past 45 years. Owned by the Lehigh Valley, The Valley Preferred Cycling Center is leased to and managed by the Velodrome Fund, Inc.—a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The mission and vision of Valley Preferred Cycling Center is to provide the Lehigh Valley and its citizens with both great racing programs as well as health and wellness-oriented programs that promote a lifelong love of cycling in a fun, clean, safe park setting.

About Mandy Marquardt:  Mandy is an 18-time National Champion, three time national record holder and has been named to the Tokyo 2020 Long Team for Track Cycling. She also lives and races with Type 1 Diabetes and rides for Team NovoNordisk. Her mission is to be a role model for young girls to pursue their dreams, and to inspire, educate and empower everyone affected by diabetes.  For more information about Mandy visit https://www.mandymarquardt.com