The predecessor of USACycling, the Amateur Bicycle League of America (ABLA) was founded in 1921 and held National Championships starting that year. From 1921 to 1964, these championships were two-, three-, or four-event omniums of track-style events, rather than a road race. USACycling souvenir programs list no results for events in 1931-1934, 1938, and 1942-1944. The 1939 program summarizes the 1937 National Champions. The 1938 results are from a national championship with similar events and format that the Amateur Athletic Union promoted.
Amateur Men YearAmateur Bicycle League of America National Amateur Bicycle Championship souvenir programs from 1939, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1964 Location Gold Silver Bronze 1921 Washington DC Arthur Nieminsky N Y Anthony Beckman NJ Carl Stockholm Il 1922 Atlantic City NJ Carl Hambacher NJ Steve O'Connor Ca Edward Conrad Mo 1923 Chicago Il Charles Barclay Ca Charlie Winter NY Edward Walsh Il 1924 Buffalo NY Charlie Winter NY “Iggie” Gronkowski NY Thos. Stephano NJ 1925 St. Louis Mo Edward Merkner Il Charlie Winter NY Henry Bruhn Pa 1926 Philadelphia Pa Edward Merkner Il Edward Rhodes Md Robert J. Connor DC 1927 Louisville Ky Jimmy Walthour N Y August Benson IL Frank Connell NJ 1928 Kenosha Wi R.J. Connor DC Peter Smessaert Il Sergio Matteini NY 1929 Newark NJ Sergio Matteini NY Bobby Thomas Wi Al Vertenten, Il 1930 Kenosha Wi Bobby Thomas Wi Frank Keating NY Predent De Lille NJ 1935 Atlantic City NJ Cecil Hursey Ca Chester Nelsen Sr Mo Jackie Simes II NJ 1936 St. Louis Mo Jackie Simes II NJ Albin Jurca Wi Charles Morton CA 1937 Buffalo NY Charles Bergna NJ Charles Morton CA Stanley Gadrin, Il 1938 1951 Cycling Almanac, Otto Eisele, ed. p.6 Chicago, IL Albin Jurca Wi Stanley Gadrin Il J. Matthews Ca 1939 Columbus Ohio Martin Deras Ca Furman Kugler NJ George Brown NY 1940 Detroit Mi Furman Kugler NJ George Woof Ca Mike Walden Mi 1941 Pasadena Ca Marvin Thomson Il Bob Stauffacher Ca Don Ferguson Ca 1945 Chicago Il Ted Smith NY Ed. Littig NJ Warren Bare Pa 1946 Columbus Oh Don Hester Ca Jack Heid NJ Ted Smith NY 1947 Fairmount Park, Philadelphia Pa Ted Smith NY Jack Heid NJ James Lauf Md 1948 Kenosha Wi Ted Smith NY Joe Cirone, Jr Wi Frank Brilando Il 1949 San Diego Ca James Lauf Md Thomas Montemage NY Gus Gatto Ca 1950 New Brunswick NJ Robert Pfarr Wi Robert Travani Mi Gus Gatto Ca 1951 Columbus Ohio Gus Gatto Ca Ernie Seubert NY Joe Cirone, Ca 1952 New Brunswick NJ Steven Hromjak Oh Gus Gatto CA Dick Stoddard Ca 1953 St. Louis Mo Ronald Rhoads Ca Gus Gatto Harry Backer 1954 Minneapolis Mn Jack Disney Ca Harry Backer Ca Richard Cortright NY 1955 New York NY Jack Disney Ca Art Longsjo Allen Bell 1956 Orlando Fla Jack Disney Ca James Rossi Il William Pflug NJ 1957 Kenosha Wi Jack Disney Ca Bob Tetzlaff Jack Hartman Ca 1958 Newark NJ Jack Disney Ca Phil Criswell Pat DeCollibus 1959 Kenosha Wi James Rossi Il Jack Hartman Ca Dave Sharp Ca 1960
Milwaukee Wi James Rossi Il Robert Pfarr Richard Cortright 1961
Milwaukee Wi James Rossi Il Jackie Simes Jack Disney 1962
St. Louis Mo James Rossi Il Allen Bell Jack Disney 1963 Chicago Il James Rossi Il Jackie Simes NJ Allen Bell NJ 1964 New York NY Jackie Simes NJ Alan Grieco NJ Hans Wolf NY
Amateur Women First held in 1937. Year Gold Silver Bronze 1937 Doris Kopsky NJ Teresa Ettl, Pa Ruth Lipsett 1938 Dolores Amundsen Il 1939 Gladys Owen NY Doris Kopsky Betty Jane Boehmer 1940 Mildred Kugler NJ Simone Opsommer Esther Leipold 1941 Jean Michels Il Elsie Stracke, Mo Mildred Kugler, NJ 1945The Chicago Tribune 1945-08-20 article identifies McCluskey as the winner of the Women's championship. ABLA historical records from championship programs, and the Newark Advocate 1945-08-20, written by a local report who attended the championship, both identify Dietz as the winner. Both the Newark Advocate and the Chicago Tribune state that Dietz and McCluskey were tied at the finish of the last event, and rode a match sprint to decide the championship. Mildred Dietz Mo Georgia McCluskey Mi Kay Montgomery 1946 Mildred Dietz Mo Janice Delhougne Mo Peggy Barber Il 1947 Doris Travani Mi Doris Kessel, NJ Delores Lussier, RI 1948 Doris Travani Mi Doris Kessel Grace Jorgenson 1949 Doris Travani Mi Grace Jorgenson Wi Kay Montgomery NY 1950 Doris Travani Mi Gay Juner Jeanne Omelenchuk née Robinson Mi 1951 Anna Piplak Il Barbara Nelson Wi Margie Thomas Ca 1952 Jeanne Omelenchuk née Robinson Mi Nancy Nieman Mi Gay Juner Ca 1953 Nancy Neiman Mi Jeanne Omelenchuk née Robinson Ruth Griffiths 1954 Nancy Neiman Mi Alice Springer (Mi) Jeanne Omelenchuk née Robinson 1955 Jeanne Omelenchuk née Robinson Mi Nancy Nieman (Mi) Alice Springer (Ca) 1956 Nancy Neiman Mi Jeanne Omelenchuk née Robinson Mi Mickey Finch NY 1957 Nancy Neiman Mi Eva Langfritz NJ Joanne Speckin Mi 1958 Maxine Conover Wash Joanne Speckin Nancy Neiman 1959 Joanne Speckin Mi Jeanne Omelenchuk née Robinson Mi Maxine Conover Wa 1960 Edith A. Johnson NY Joanne Speckin Jeanne Omelenchuk 1961 Edith A Johnson NY Elizabeth Burghart Nancy Burghart 1962 Nancy Burghart NY Elizabeth Burghart Jeanne Omelenchuk 1963 Edith Johnson NY Nancy Burghart NY Jeanne Omelenchuk Mi 1964 Nancy Burghart NY Edith Johnson NY Cheryl Fleischman Wi
Juniors Year Gold Silver Bronze 1922 Charles Smithson DC Jos Simons Co George Howe Tx 1923 Samuel Dowell Ohio Alphones Vertenten Il Leonard De Lue Ca 1924 William Honeman, NJ Roy Ulrich Mo Charles Penny Fl 1925 Walter Bresnan NY Geary May Ca William Unkert NJ 1926 Chester Atwood DC Henry O'Brien Ca Irving McNulty Co 1927 Ted Becker, Jr Il Bobby Thomas Wi Charles Brace NJ 1928 Bobby Thomas Wi William Creamer Ca Osmond Stevens, Mo 1929 Tino Reboli NJ Marco Rosales NY A. Englehardt Il 1930 George Thomas Wi Otto Leudeke NJ Sig. Jablonksi Il 1935 David Martin NJ George Ferry Oh Aldo Castagnoni NY 1936 David Martin NJ Gene Potente Wi Lucien Musso, NY 1937 Furman Kugler NJ Adolph Juner Roger Smith 1938 John Van Diest Oh 1939 Frank Paul Ut William Ossler Mi Takahi Ishihara Hi 1940 Harry Naismyth NJ William Ossler I. T. Gronkowsky 1941 Andres Bernardsky Ca Chuck Edwards, Il Walter Sorenson Wi 1945 Spencer Busch NY Ernest Seubert Steve Ledogar 1946 Don Sheldon NJ Percy Murnane NY Clayton Meade NY 1947 Joe Cirone, Jr Ca Art Stahlberg, Il Karl Wettberg, Mi 1948 Donald Clausen Wi Wesley Truesdale George Caruana 1949 Donald Clausen Wi Harry Backer Ca Richard O'Brien Ca 1950 Harry Backer Ca Allen Bell Richard Gatto 1951 Vaughn Angell Ut Jack Peterson, CA Paul Tenney Ca 1952 John Chiselko NJ Vaughn Angell Ut Harry Tobin NJ 1953 Jack Hartman Ca Jerry Carson Skippy Hess 1954 Robert Zumwalt Jr. Pat DeCollibus William Pflug 1955 Pat DeCollibus NY Phil Criswell (Ca) Dwayne Davenport (Ca) Don Carlin (NJ) (tie) 1956 Dave Staub Ca Don Tenney Ca Ed Ruesing Mo 1957 Perry Metzler NY Ed Ruesing Mo Tom Myrall 1958 James Donovan NY Dave Sharp Eddie Rudolph 1959 Jackie Simes 3rd NJ Bud Campbell Ca Mike Fraysse NJ 1960 Bobbie Fenn NY Ray Matthews III Mike Fraysse 1961 Alan Grieco NJ Ray Mathews III Dave Haarstick 1962 Alan Grieco NJ William Mazurek Olaf Moetus 1963 Jose Nin N Y Tom McMillan Ca Jean Waschgau Ca 1964 Tony McMillan Ca Pete Senia, Jr NY Gary Carmichael Ca
Venues, Dates, and Courses The omniums were held on a variety of courses including one to three mile loops in city roads and public parks, dirt car and horse-racing tracks, and on a banked, dirt velodrome. Starting in the late 1950s the championships were held on more traditional paved velodromes. Year Date Location Course Description Sources1921 10/09 West Potomac Park, Washington DC Park loop roads 1922 09/16 City Athletic Field, Atlantic City, NJ 1923 9/8-9/9 Humboldt Park, Chicago, Il Park loop roads 1924 9/6-9/7 Humboldt Park, Buffalo, NY Park loop roads 1925 9/5-9/6 Forest Park, St. Louis Park loop roads 1926 9/11-9/12 Sesquicentenial Stadium, Philadelphia cinder, unbanked track 1927 9/10-9/11 Shawnee Park, Louisville, Ky Park loop roads 1928 9/8-9/9 Washington Park Bowl, Kenosha, Wi 1/5 mile banked dirt velodrome 1929 9/7-9/8 Weequahic Park, Newark, NJ 1/2 mile, oval, dirt, horse-racing track 1930 9/6-9/7 Washington Park Bowl, Kenosha, Wi 1/5 mile banked dirt velodrome 1931 Not held 1932 Not held 1933 Not held 1934 Not held1935 9/6-9/7 Albany Ave, near Bader Field, Atlantic City, NJ short road course 1936 9/12-9/13 Forest Park, St. Louis 1.8 mile lap; park loop roads 1937 9/4-9/5 Humboldt Park, Buffalo, NY Park loop roads 1938 9/17-9/18 Garfield Park, Chicago, Il Park loop roads 1939 9/2-9/3 Franklin Park, Columbus, Oh Park loop roads 1940 8/31-9/1 Chandler Park, Detroit Michigan Park loop roads , 1941 8/23-8/24 Arroyo Seco (Rose Bowl), Pasadena, Ca 3 mile lap; city roads 1942 Not held 1943 Not held 1944 Not held1945 8/17-8/19 Humboldt Park, Chicago, Il 1.75 mile lap; park loop roads 1946 8/17-8/19 Franklin Park, Columbus, Oh Park loop roads ;1947 8/16-8/17 Fairmount Park, Philadelphia Pa 1 mile lap; park loop roads, 1948 9/3-9/5 Washington Park Bowl, Kenosha, Wi 1/5 mile banked dirt velodrome 1949 8/19-8/21 Balboa Park Stadium, San Diego, CA. 1/4 mile slightly banked midget clay-surface auto racing track. 1950 8/19-8/20 Johnson Park, Piscataway, NJ 1.1 mile lap; park loop roads. See Note 1. 1951 8/4-8/5 Franklin Park, Columbus, Oh 1 mile lap; park loop roads 1952 8/30-8/31 Johnson Park, Piscataway, NJ 1/2 mile flat dirt horse-racing track. See Note 2. 1953 9/5-9/6 Forest Park, St. Louis 1.8 mile lap; park loop roads 1954 9/25-9/26 Parade Stadium, Minneapolis, Mn 1/4 mile asphalt running track. See Note 3 1955 8/27-8/28 Flushing Meadows Cycling Track, Queens, NY 1/2 mile unbanked cycling course 1956 7/14-7/15 Ben White Raceway Orlando FL 1/2 mile dirt horse-racing track 1957 8/17-8/18 Washington Park Bowl, Kenosha, Wi 1/5 mile banked dirt velodrome. See Note 5. 1958 8/16-8/17 Weequahic Park, Newark, NJ 1/2 mile, oval, dirt, horse-racing track 1959 8/22-8/23 Washington Park Bowl, Kenosha, Wi 1/5 mile banked dirt velodrome 1960 7/16-7/17 Brown Deer Velodrome, Milwaukee, Wi 1/4 mile banked asphalt velodrome 1961 8/26-8/27 Brown Deer Velodrome, Milwaukee, Wi 1/4 mile banked asphalt velodrome See Note 6.1962 8/25-8/26 Penrose Park Velodrome, St. Louis, Mo 1/5 mile asphalt velodrome; 28° banking 1963 8/23-8/24 Northbrook Velodrome, Northbrook, Il 382 m velodrome 18° banking 1964 8/29-8/30 Kissena velodrome, NY 400 m velodrome 19° banking
Venue Notes 1. Was originally scheduled for horse-racing track, but was rained out and run on park loop roads. 2. Day 2 was conducted on a 1 mile park loop road due to rain. 3. Day 2 was moved to a road course on Victory Ave after many crashes on day 1. 4. Day 2 moved to CCW course on city streets due to rain. 5. Day 2 moved to course on city streets due to rain. 6. Final events to day 2 were conducted on a 1.8 mile loop in the park due to rain.
Formats 1923 Senior and Junior Men rode 1/3 mile, 1 mile, 5 mile unpaced, and 10 mile. 1924 Senior Men rode 1/3 mile (in heats), 1 mile (in heats), 5 mile unpaced, and 10 mile. Junior men rode 1/4 mile (in heats), 1/3 mile (in heats) 1 mile (unpaced), and 2 mile. 1938 Senior Men rode three events: 1 mile, 5 mile, 10 mile. A 25 mile points race was run but was not part of the championship omnium. 1939 Senior Men rode four events: 1 mile (in heats), 5 mile, 10 mile points race, 25 mile points race. 1946 Senior men rode four events: 1 mile (in heats), 5 mile, 10 mile points race, 25 mile points race. 1947 Senior Men rode 1 mile, 5 mile, 10 mile races, 25 mile points race. 1948 Senior Men rode 0.5 mile, 1 mile, 5 mile, 10 mile races. The 1, 2, and 5 mile races ran in heats. The format of the 10 mile race was not listed. 1949 Senior Men rode 0.5 mile, 1 mile, 5 mile, 10 mile races. The 1, 2, and 5 mile races ran in heats. The format of the 10 mile race was not listed. 1950 Senior Men rode 1 mile, 2 mile, 5 mile, 10 mile points races. The 1, 2, and 5 mile races ran in heats.