Get The Latest News!
Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.
Zekthi
EDWARDSVILLE - Andi Zekthi of St. Louis won the men's main event race, the Category 1/2/3 Pro, while Abby Krawczyk of Webster Groves, Mo., took the women's main event race. The women's Pro/Open division highlighted the results of the 16th annual Busey Bank Edwardsville Rotary Criterium Festival street bike races, held Saturday afternoon, Aug. 15, 2026, and in the evening in downtown Edwardsville.
The Criterium has become an annual end-of-summer ritual for many people in the area, and it featured its now-traditional entertainment zone, with various bands, food trucks, and other items that were available for the public to purchase. In addition, the local restaurants had outdoor beer and food stands, while the restaurants were open to allow spectators to enjoy indoor dining to escape the heat.
There was a new course, which started on South Buchanan Street, turned left onto East Vandalia Street, turned onto South Main Street, and left onto West Schwartz Street, before turning into the home stretch onto North Buchanan Street, a total of 0.65 miles, and was relatively flat with wide turns. The event was also a part of the Illinois Cup series.
In addition, the Revity Credit Union Kids Zone entertained the kids, and the annual free kids' races, billed as "the greatest race in the world," were also held, with kids of all ages participating with their own bikes. A community bike ride was also held following the kids' races, in which the public was invited to ride the course at their own leisure.
The first race of the day was the Open Juniors 9-12 race, which was won by Santiago Moya of Aurora, with Everett Guilford second, and William Hayes third. In the Open Juniors 13-14 division, the winner was Nathan Epplin-Rockero of Edwardsville, with Michael Becker second, and Aadrith Reddy finishing third. In the 15-16 age group, the winner was Javier Moya of Aurora, with Aaron Pearlman of Elmhurst second, and Michael Becker placing third. In the 17-18 group, Carl Boquist of Wilmette was the winner, with second place going to Adam Gingrich of Columbia, Mo., and Grady Hagedorn of Edwardsville coming in third.
In the Category 4.5 women's race, the winner was Laura Brasier of Chicago, with Taylor Belobrajic of Maplewood, Mo., the runner-up, and third place went to Cindy Kline. Jordan Williams of St. Louis won the men's Category 5 race, with Jacob Schlote, also of St. Louis, taking second, and Brandon Shipman of Jefferson City, Mo., running in third. In the Category 3/4 women's race, Melanie Abbott of St. Louis won the gold medal, with Cora Trout of University City, Mo., winning silver, and Anna Pearlman of Elmhurst taking the bronze.
In the women's masters Category 1-4 race for ages 40-49, the winner was Brianne Guilford of Edwardsville, with Suzi Berner of Wheaton finishing second, and in the 50-59 age group, Kline was the winner, with Brenda Bylantis of Westmont coming in second. In the men's Category 4/5 race, Tristan Welch of Alhambra was the winner, with Matt Wayman of St. Louis coming in second, and Adam Kerkemeyer, also of St. Louis, finishing third. Krawczyk took the Pro/Open women's main event race, with Kathryn McDicken of Appleton, Wis., second, and Alex Wiggins of Little Rock, Ark., finishing third.
In the Category 1/4 masters, in the 40-49 age group, the winner was Terrance Keenan of St. Louis, with Brandon Krawczyk of St. Louis coming in second, and third place went to Matthew Hyman of Cranston, R.I. In the 50-59 grouping, Jose Rodriguez of Highland Park was the winner, with Siegfried Froelich of Chicago second, and David Henderson of Columbia, Mo. placing third. Craig Teich of Clayton, Mo. won the 60-and-over race, with Gary Dyer of Alton coming in second, and Mike Rickey of Columbia, Ill. winding up in third.
In the final two races of the festival, Robert Zobrist of Highland won the men's Category 3/4 race, with Jason Roche of St. Louis finishing second, and Lucas Graham of Clayton coming in third. In the men's main event, the Pro 1/2/3 race, Zekthi won the event, with Jonathan Jacob of Evansville, Ind., coming in second, and third place going to Maddox Simmons of Glen Carbon.
