U.S. Track Champion Mandy Marquardt and James Alvord III have married after a two-year engagement. The wedding celebration will continue this week as they move from Glen Spey, NY to Lima, Peru, where they will represent USA Cycling at the Pan American Track Cycling Championships, August 10-14.

Both athletes had just completed multiple events at the USA Cycling Junior and Elite Track National Championships in Breinigsville, July 27-31, at their home course, Valley Preferred Cycling Center. Marquardt extended his national title streak to 25, and Alvord's to seven.

Marquardt won individual titles in the elite women's 500m time trial and sprint. Her winning time in the elite women's 500m time trial (34.823 mph) was a new track record. She also won the elite women's team sprint with juniors Annika Flanigan and Divya Verma.

Alvord won three more national titles from her 2021 results. He won the elite men's 1000m time trial, sprint, and team sprint last week, along with Andrew Chu and Barack Pipkins in the finals and Nicholas Roberts in the preliminaries.

"I never imagined I would dress up for a honeymoon, but to be able to compete for the US team together like this is something special. All good things are happening at once," Marquardt said a few days before exchanging vows.

"I wasn't planning on going to the Pan American Track Cycling Championships this year, but I couldn't miss it because it's the first event to kick off the 2022-2024 Olympic qualifying cycle.

The two riders met in 2010 at the velodrome near Trexlertown and went on to ace the same team, the Edge Cycling Team; as a teenager, Marquardt learned she had type I diabetes, but that did not slow her down. Now 31 and a member of Team Novo Nordisk Pro Cycling, Marquardt is aiming to make Team USA for the 2026 Paris Olympics.

Marquardt narrowly missed qualifying for the 2020 Olympics, but not without the extraordinary efforts of her funders. Alvord quit her full-time job to support Marquardt in the preparation and competition for the 2020 Track World Championships in Berlin. That was at the end of February, and two weeks later the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. Wedding plans were put on hold, and Marquardt's Olympic dream was put on hold.

"Racing and training with Mandy gave me so many great memories and experiences. On and off the bike, we push each other to be the best we can be, love each other, learn and grow (that's the real win). It's really special to have made it this far, not only as a racer, but also as an individual," Alvord said.

"Just the opportunity to race together, especially on our home course, is priceless. I'm smiling and a little speechless to be defending the national title shoulder to shoulder. Both of us have been selected to compete in the Pan American Track Cycling Championships and I am looking forward to representing Team USA with my wife."

While Marquardt has won seven medals in Pan American Championship races since 2017, including one gold, two silver, and four bronze, Alvord will be making his debut in this Pan competition at age 32. He is part of the men's sprint team that includes Evan Boone, Josh Hartman, Geneway Tan, and Dalton Walters. Marquardt's teammates on the women's sprint team are Keely Ainslie, Kayla Hankins, and McKenna McKee.

In Lima, the first American track couple is expected to make their first appearance on the track during Wednesday's round of team sprints.

Women's Sprint

Men's Sprint

Women's Endurance

Men's Endurance [31]