INDIANAPOLIS - The current and 12-time national collegiate track cycling champion Marian University cycling team and head coach Dean Peterson are proud to announce the commitment of the first rider for the 2010-11 season.

Cynthia Lakatosh (Trexlertown, Pa./Parkland) committed to the Marian University cycling program on Friday afternoon at the Marian University Cycling Center.

"I am super-excited to have her join our team," said head coach Dean Peterson. "We believe she will help us continue to build the cycling team and to make our women's team that much better."

Lakatosh, a transfer from Lehigh-Carbon Community College who has been riding since she was nine, brings an extensive riding background to the reigning 12-time national champions. She is a 10-time national champion who has earned titles in both road and track championships.

She won the junior road race, time trial, and criterium national championships in the road competitions, and won the 500-meter time trial, sprint, scratch race, and women's omnium titles on the track.

She was the national record holder for the two-kilometer pursuit as well as the 500-meter time trial at the junior level.

Lakatosh earned a spot on the 2005 and 2006 Junior World Championships team in the track competition and is expected to contribute to the storied Marian University cycling program.

"Cynthia has a strong track background," said Peterson. "We are looking for her to enhance that as well as continue to build on her performance on the road."

The Knights won the 2009 USA Cycling Collegiate Track Cycling National Championship for the 12th time in 15 years last weekend. It is the team's fourth consecutive title and the first as Marian University.