MERIDEN, Conn. — With her blond hair blowing in the breeze behind her, Gina Layman flies around the dirt track with the ease of a professional and the determination of an aspiring one.

Layman, of Meriden, has been BMX racing since she was a young girl and has finally seen all of her hard work pay off, fulfilling her dream by becoming a member of Team USA. The 38-year-old will compete in the BMX World Championships in Adelaide, Australia, in July.

"Everything is finally coming full circle for me," Layman said as she suited up for a ride. "I finally was able to set everything aside and focus on myself. This is one thing that I have been selfish with."

Being selfish doesn't naturally to Layman. The mother of four, all of whom race BMX, also manages to find time to work as the director of Falcon BMX track in Meriden and as an emergency medical technician and volunteer firefighter in Middlefield, where she is a lieutenant.

"Gina has been a member here for many years," Middlefield Fire Chief Dave Quick said. "She is very active with the company and very involved."

When asked how she does it all, Layman replied with a smile: "There's 24 hours in a day and I sure use all of them."

Layman started to take her BMX racing seriously seven years ago, after having her last child. Her boys range from 6 to 19.

"I think that this is really cool," said Justin Layman, Gina Layman's 19-year-old son. "There are not many moms who do this. It's cool that I can get on the track and she can and we can both help each other and have fun."

Serious training got her back into race shape, including sprints, weightlifting and sweat sessions with her martial arts master. Layman is also a black belt.

To reach her goal of competing in the World Championships, Layman traveled the nation, winning state and regional competitions.

Her most desired No. 1 plate, the one that would qualify her for the Worlds, came in March. Layman traveled to the heat of DeSoto, Texas, and earned the plate in a qualifying race.

A plate designated a racer's ranking in his district.

"Some people play golf, others play softball, and Gina BMXs," Quick said. "It is something different that she does and something that she has put a lot of time and effort into."

When she boards the plane to Australia, Layman's BMX career will hit its high point. After riding for 30-some years, she will line up next to the world's best.

"BMX is a way of life for me," Layman said. "I have pushed myself so hard for this that I could never imagine not doing it, not riding."

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Information from: Record-Journal, http://www.record-journal.com