S. Tahoe youth captures mountain bike championship

A.J. Marino, 14, of South Lake Tahoe secured the title of the Pacific Regional Mountain Bike Champion and the California/Nevada State Champion in the Junior Cross Country Division in the final race of the Sierra Cup Series earlier this month.

Marino won the series by a close 12 points over Nelson Bedient of Incline Village.

Nelson Bedient of Incline, from left, A.J. Marino of South Tahoe, and Blake Milner of Reno. Photo/Provided

Marino has been competing locally and on the national level in the cross country discipline since he was 10. He is ranked 14th in his age group.