Seventy-five teams from 24 Colorado schools participated in today's Junior Solar Sprint and first ever Hydrogen Fuel Cell car competitions hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

GOLDEN, COLO., May 15, 2004 - Seventy-five teams from 24 Colorado schools participated in today's Junior Solar Sprint and first ever Hydrogen Fuel Cell car competitions hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Trophies for the fastest solar-powered cars were given to Colorado students from Mandalay Middle School (Westminster), "The Squirrel Incident," first place; Garden School (New Castle), Car Number 36, second place; and West Middle School (Littleton), Car Number 69, third place.

Three solar design trophies based on technology, craftsmanship and innovation were given to teams from Lyons Middle School, Car Number 33, first place; Lyons Middle School, Car Number 32, second place; and Monarch K-8 School (Louisville), Car Number 7, third place.

Three trophies for stock class cars in the hydrogen competition (cars made directly from a fuel cell kit, with limited modifications) were given to teams from Horizon Community Middle School (Aurora), Car Number 45, first place; West Middle School (Colorado Springs), "Hydro Speed," second place; and Lyons Middle School, Car Number 35, third place.

Trophies for open class cars in the hydrogen competition (cars with a standard fuel cell and solar cell, with other design elements left up the team's imagination), were awarded to Eagle Valley Middle School (Eagle), Car Number 5, first place; Monarch K-8 School (Louisville), Car Number 10, second place; and Bell Middle School (Golden), "Speedy Turtle," third place.

Students from Monarch K-8 School (Louisville), Car Number 7, were awarded the Spirit Award for exhibiting good sportsmanship attributes including fairness and respectful behavior.

NREL's Junior Solar Sprint and Hydrogen Fuel Cell car competitions are sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, Midwest Research Institute, NREL and BP America, Inc.

NREL is a national laboratory managed by Midwest Research Institute and Battelle. The Laboratory is a leading center for research into photovoltaics, wind energy, plant- and waste-derived fuels and chemicals, energy-efficient buildings, advanced vehicle design, geothermal energy and hydrogen fuel cells.