X Games: Steve McCann keeps double gold hopes alive in BMX Vert

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Steve McCann’s chances at double gold in X Games 17 survives. McCann advanced to the BMX Freestyle Vert finals by winning his heat Friday afternoon.

Jamie Bestwick won the second of the two heats, putting up an elimination-round high of 45 points in his final run.

PHOTOS: X Games 17 flies high at Staples Center

The five riders for the BMX Freestyle Vert finals will return to the halfpipe at 6:15 tonight.

1. Jamie Bestwick 87 (last year’s gold medalist)
2. Steve McCann 80 (last year’s silver medalist)
3. Vince Byron 78
4. Simon Tabron 73 (last year’s bronze medalist and a Carlsbad native)
5. Jimmy Walker 71

The initial 10 competitors split into two groups of five. Each group rode the halfpipe for 12 minutes, with each rider taking 30-second turns.

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-- Douglas Farmer