This weekend, cycling enthusiasts from around the country flocked to Wichita Falls to take part in the 34th annual Hotter N’ Hell Hundred, including MSU’s nationally ranked cycling team.

“It’s much faster and more exciting than normal races,” said cyclist and accounting sophomore JohnPaul Blanton. “It’s a great race and a great crowd.”

The name “Hotter N’ Hell Hundred” itself is a triple entendre and is at the core of understanding what the race is. Originating in 1982 as part of Wichita Falls’ 100 year anniversary celebration, the main event—Saturday’s endurance race—spans a grueling 100 mile course in late August Texas heat, which has an average high in the upper nineties.

Despite the heat, the cycling team took home five awards at this year’s HH100 race over the course of the weekend. Cyclist Pablo Cruz finished in 10th place in Saturday’s 100 mile race, with a time of 4:03:44, and 30^th place in the men’s crit race. Teammate Joshua Buchel was one spot up at 29^th place in the men’s crit. Maxyna Cottam, also a member of the cycling team, took sixth place in the women’s open at 2:58:55.

Grad student Hannah Ross placed third in the first women’s criterium Friday and second on Saturday in the women’s open with a time of 2:58:54. Ross took first place in Sunday’s race, thus improving throughout the course of the weekend—a feat almost unheard of.

While watching the race, coach Charlie Zamastil said he was most excited to see MSU’s four newest members of the cycling team compete and to watch the interesting dynamic between them.

Zamastil said the HH100 is “the biggest event we compete in, up there with the national championship,” and the event left him feeling very excited to see what the rest of the season has in store for the team.

Story by Kalli Root. 

Hotter n' Hell 2015

Joshua Buchel, leads the way for his team to get ahead, on Friday August 29th, 2015, at the Hotter n' Hell race downtown Wichita Falls. Photo by Rawlecia Rogers.

Joshua Buchel, leads the way for his team to get ahead, on Friday August 29th, 2015, at the Hotter n' Hell race downtown Wichita Falls. Photo by Rawlecia Rogers.

Joshua Buchel, leads the way for his team to get ahead, on Friday August 29th, 2015, at the Hotter n' Hell race downtown Wichita Falls. Photo by Rawlecia Rogers.

Pablo Cruz and Joshua Buchel focuses on the race on Friday August 29th, 2015, at the Hotter n' Hell race downtown Wichita Falls. Photo by Rawlecia Rogers.

Pablo Cruz and Joshua Buchel focuses on the race on Friday August 29th, 2015, at the Hotter n' Hell race downtown Wichita Falls. Photo by Rawlecia Rogers.

Pablo Cruz and Joshua Buchel focuses on the race on Friday August 29th, 2015, at the Hotter n' Hell race downtown Wichita Falls. Photo by Rawlecia Rogers.

Joshua Buchel, takes the corner with a lead, Friday August 29th, 2015, at the Hotter n' Hell race downtown Wichita Falls. Photo by Rawlecia Rogers.

Joshua Buchel, takes the corner with a lead, Friday August 29th, 2015, at the Hotter n' Hell race downtown Wichita Falls. Photo by Rawlecia Rogers.

Joshua Buchel, takes the corner with a lead, Friday August 29th, 2015, at the Hotter n' Hell race downtown Wichita Falls. Photo by Rawlecia Rogers.

Maxyna Cottam, freshman, takes a drink from her water bottle during a womens race Friday, August 29th, 2015, at the Hotter n' Hell race, downtown Wichita Falls. She placed 6th place in a race on saturday. Photo by Rawlecia Rogers.

Maxyna Cottam, freshman, takes a drink from her water bottle during a womens race Friday, August 29th, 2015, at the Hotter n' Hell race, downtown Wichita Falls. She placed 6th place in a race on saturday. Photo by Rawlecia Rogers.

Maxyna Cottam, freshman, takes a drink from her water bottle during a womens race Friday, August 29th, 2015, at the Hotter n' Hell race, downtown Wichita Falls. She placed 6th place in a race on saturday. Photo by Rawlecia Rogers.

Cyclists Joshua Buchel and Cameron Lowery, nursing junior, race in the crit race.

Cyclists Joshua Buchel and Cameron Lowery, nursing junior, race in the crit race.

Cyclists Joshua Buchel and Cameron Lowery, nursing junior, race in the crit race.

Maxyna Cottam, freshmen, watches races from the sidelines during the Hotter n' Hell races, Friday. Photo by Kayla White.

Maxyna Cottam, freshmen, watches races from the sidelines during the Hotter n' Hell races, Friday. Photo by Kayla White.

Maxyna Cottam, freshmen, watches races from the sidelines during the Hotter n' Hell races, Friday. Photo by Kayla White.

Maxyna Cottam, freshmen, rounds a corner in a race on friday during Hotter n' Hell. Photo by Kayla White.

Maxyna Cottam, freshmen, rounds a corner in a race on friday during Hotter n' Hell. Photo by Kayla White.

Maxyna Cottam, freshmen, rounds a corner in a race on friday during Hotter n' Hell. Photo by Kayla White.

Maxyna Cottam, freshmen, rounds a corner in a race on friday during Hotter n' Hell. Photo by Kayla White.

Maxyna Cottam, freshmen, rounds a corner in a race on friday during Hotter n' Hell. Photo by Kayla White.

Maxyna Cottam, freshmen, rounds a corner in a race on friday during Hotter n' Hell. Photo by Kayla White.