A Bakersfield mother of two who took up competitive cycling nine months ago after an injury ended her marathoning career died Sunday while competing in a bicycle race outside Yosemite National Park.

Authorities reported that Suzanne J. Rivera, 47, was part of a group of riders racing down a winding road in the Mariposa County Women's Stage Race when she slammed into a support vehicle parked on the shoulder.

A Bakersfield mother of two who took up competitive cycling nine months ago after an injury ended her marathoning career died Sunday while competing in a bicycle race outside Yosemite National Park.

Authorities reported that Suzanne J. Rivera, 47, was part of a group of riders racing down a winding road in the Mariposa County Women's Stage Race when she slammed into a support vehicle parked on the shoulder.

EUGENE, Ore. -- Shafter High graduate Anna Jelmini earned her second title of the weekend at the Pac-12 Track & Field Championships on Sunday, earning a win in the women's discus a day after winning the shot put.

Jelmini, a sophomore at Arizona State who also won the Pac-12 (then Pac-10) discus title as a freshman, had a top mark of 193 feet, 4 inches, on her second of six throws. She fouled once, and the shortest of her five legal throws was 186-4. The next farthest throw was 180-9 (Alyssa Hasslen, Arizona).

EUGENE, Ore. -- Shafter High graduate Anna Jelmini earned her second title of the weekend at the Pac-12 Track & Field Championships on Sunday, earning a win in the women's discus a day after winning the shot put.

Jelmini, a sophomore at Arizona State who also won the Pac-12 (then Pac-10) discus title as a freshman, had a top mark of 193 feet, 4 inches, on her second of six throws. She fouled once, and the shortest of her five legal throws was 186-4. The next farthest throw was 180-9 (Alyssa Hasslen, Arizona).

In just a week's time Justin Schweitzer went from being an unhappy race car driver to one on the complete opposite end of the spectrum.

A trip to Victory Lane was all it took.

In just a week's time Justin Schweitzer went from being an unhappy race car driver to one on the complete opposite end of the spectrum.

A trip to Victory Lane was all it took.

As a runner, Chris Schwartz seemed to have everything going his way his final two years at Foothill High.

He won the state CIF Division I cross country championship as a junior and was the boys 1,600-meter state champion as a senior. Schwartz accepted a partial scholarship offer to Cal Poly, a solid track and cross country program.

As a runner, Chris Schwartz seemed to have everything going his way his final two years at Foothill High.

He won the state CIF Division I cross country championship as a junior and was the boys 1,600-meter state champion as a senior. Schwartz accepted a partial scholarship offer to Cal Poly, a solid track and cross country program.

Bakersfield Speedway's slick racing surface was difficult for some drivers to maneuver around Saturday night.

Lee Jensen wasn't one of them.

Bakersfield Speedway's slick racing surface was difficult for some drivers to maneuver around Saturday night.

Lee Jensen wasn't one of them.

Three local softball teams won't have to leave home for the Central Section playoffs.

The section commissioners announced Saturday in Porterville that Garces (Division II), defending champion Ridgeview (D-III) and Taft (D-IV) earned top seeds in their playoff divisions. All three have byes through Wednesday's first round and won't play until Friday's quarterfinals.

Three local softball teams won't have to leave home for the Central Section playoffs.

The section commissioners announced Saturday in Porterville that Garces (Division II), defending champion Ridgeview (D-III) and Taft (D-IV) earned top seeds in their playoff divisions. All three have byes through Wednesday's first round and won't play until Friday's quarterfinals.

Currently we are on a four-day (five games) road trip in Augusta, Ga. I have really enjoyed exploring Greenville, S.C., the past week, but I also really looked forward to getting back on the road and seeing what this area of the United States has to offer.

Exploring cities, especially in the East, that have so much history is a lot of fun. The East Coast is filled with years and years of history. The French-Indian War, Revolutionary War, War of 1812, The American Civil War and many battles against Native American tribes have all been fought on the land that we are driving across each day.

Currently we are on a four-day (five games) road trip in Augusta, Ga. I have really enjoyed exploring Greenville, S.C., the past week, but I also really looked forward to getting back on the road and seeing what this area of the United States has to offer.

Exploring cities, especially in the East, that have so much history is a lot of fun. The East Coast is filled with years and years of history. The French-Indian War, Revolutionary War, War of 1812, The American Civil War and many battles against Native American tribes have all been fought on the land that we are driving across each day.

EUGENE, Ore. -- Shafter High graduate Ana Jelmini won the women's shot put Saturday at the Pac-12 Track Championships.

Jelmini, a sophomore at Arizona State, had a mark of 56 feet, 43⁄4 inches, which came on her fifth of six throws.

EUGENE, Ore. -- Shafter High graduate Ana Jelmini won the women's shot put Saturday at the Pac-12 Track Championships.

Jelmini, a sophomore at Arizona State, had a mark of 56 feet, 43⁄4 inches, which came on her fifth of six throws.

For some, such as defending champion Chris Horner, winning the Amgen Tour of California is the main objective.

For others, the focus in on a stage win, helping a teammate garner a stage win or maybe coming away with the King of the Mountain (best climber) jersey.

For some, such as defending champion Chris Horner, winning the Amgen Tour of California is the main objective.

For others, the focus in on a stage win, helping a teammate garner a stage win or maybe coming away with the King of the Mountain (best climber) jersey.

It competes for attention with the world's second most prestigious bicycle race, but sporting news media around the world wouldn't dare miss the Amgen Tour of California.

And they definitely won't want to skip Stage Five, coming to Bakersfield Thursday.

Maybe it's a good thing so many of Bakersfield's most influential people take cycling seriously. Why else would they spend so much time and energy (and money) helping organize a bike race for the greater good?

From the fundraising end to race logistics to negotiating with various government officials, well-known locals have contributed greatly to making sure that Stage Five of the Amgen Tour of California goes off without a hitch Thursday in Bakersfield.