BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Rich Pearson kicked off cyclocross season for Team Kaos/Nebraska Medical Center with a victory in the Cat. 4 men's race in the first of two days of racing Saturday and Sunday.

At age 57, Pearson was 10 years older than the combined age of the second- and third-place finishers.

"I started in the middle of the pack at the beginning and gradually worked my way up so that by lap five (of six-and-a-half), I was ahead," Pearson said.

Pearson was joined by teammate John Vondracek, who finished sixth in the Cat. 3/4 race and was disqualified in the Cat. 4 race. Vondracek's tire separated from the rim in the 3/4 race, forcing him to run to the pit to get a fresh wheel. In the Cat. 4 race, Vondracek flatted and got back into the race on another rider's bike. Since the bike wasn't in the pit at the start of the race, he was disqualified.

On Sunday, James Blake took second in the Cat. 3/4 race. "He looked strong," Vondracek said.

Pearson had a mechanical that forced a DNF in the 3/4 race. In the Cat. 4 race, Pearson was in good position before sliding out and crashing. He fought back to finish fourth. 

Vondracek finished eighth in the Cat. 1/2/3 race.