NE Pro Women Class contender Steede delivered a standout performance at Sumter, establishing the lead from the outset and maintaining control throughout all six tests.
Steede ultimately finished more than five minutes clear of second place in the category, opening her 2026 ANEC campaign in winning fashion onboard her Husqvarna FC 250 Factory Edition.
For NE Pro1 contender DeLong, he featured toward the front aboard his FX 350, taking two test victories and remaining in race-winning contention throughout the day. The 29-year-old finished up the opener in P2, forming a strong foundation as the series heads to Round 2 in Oklahoma from March 21-22.
“My day was good!” reflected DeLong. “Honestly, I wouldn’t say I surprised myself, but I felt really good and was able to win a couple of tests and put myself back in that fight. This is the best I have ever ridden here at Sumter, which kind of surprised me as well. But I love the trail down here, and the club put a nice amount of work in to make the trail smooth, tough, and tight. It had a little bit of everything, so I really enjoyed it. I’m coming into this year feeling more prepared – we’re pretty dialed in – and my bike is feeling really good. We’ve put in a good amount of work and I’m excited for the season ahead – big thanks to the whole Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team.”
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