Miranda captures gold at X Games

WOODWARD, Penn. -- Robbie Miranda of Newport Beach captured his

first gold medal in the downhill BMX race of X Games VIII, the

super bowl of extreme sports, Sunday at Woodward Camp near the Penn

State campus.

Miranda finished in 47.35, slightly ahead of the pack of the other

seven riders. He topped a field of 34, and built momentum from

winning in his heat, then in the quarterfinals and the semifinals.

“I could feel all the riders behind me the whole way, and I never

counted anyone out,” Miranda said in a press release. “I always cheer

on my fellow racers and hope that they all finish the race.”