Aug. 17, 2003 (Durango, Colo.) – The last short track event of the 2003
NORBA National Championship Series was one for the ages. Narrow margins at
the top of the overall standings suggested that today's event was going to
be competitive to the last stroke of the pedal as individual race
victories, overall titles and national championships were all on the line.
In the end Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder, Colo; RLX-Ralph Lauren) took
home the title of U.S. National Short Track Champion, but the overall
series title eluded him. Meanwhile, Sue Haywood (Davis, W. Va;
Trek-Volkswagen) secured both the national and overall series title in a
hard fought battle.

Prior to the start of the men's event, Horgan-Kobelski lead Seamus McGrath
(CAN; Haro-Lee Dungarees) in the overall standings by a slim 46 points.
McGrath had his eyes on the overall title and a victory was almost
imperative. Immediately from the gun, McGrath attacked and eventually
opened up a substantial gap. Behind, a chase group formed with
Horgan-Kobelski, and McGrath's Canadian countrymen, Ryder Hesjedal
(Subaru-Gary Fisher), Geoff Kabush (Kona-Clarks) and Chris Sheppard
(Haro-Lee-Dungarees). As Hesjedal broke away from the chase group and
dangled in between, the group, which also contained hometown heroes Todd
Wells (Durango, Colo; Mongoose-Hyundai) and Travis Brown (Durango, Colo;
Trek-Volkswagen), continued to chase with Horgan-Kobelski having the most
to lose from the situation. As the number of laps remaining shrunk, it was
evident that victory was McGrath's which meant Horgan-Kobelski needed to
finish no less that third to secure the overall title. With Hesjedal too
far in front of the chase group, Horgan-Kobelski's only hope was to
out-kick Kabush for third. In the second-to-last corner, Horgan-Kobelski
made an unsuccessful attempt to pass Kabush on the outside and the overall
title came down to the last corner. Giving it his all, Horgan-Kobelski took
the last corner too fast and furious and crashed as Kabush rode in for
third thus giving McGrath the overall title.

Second in the overall standings but the top ranked American,
Horgan-Kobelski walked away with both the U.S. National Short Track
Championship, as well as yesterday's cross country title.

Horgan-Kobelski talked about his race afterwards. “The race was hard from
the gun. Seamus was definitely going for the overall title, and once he
won, I knew I had to get third to keep the overall. I was fourth heading
into the last corner and just tried a crazy pass and went down. I didn't
get the overall, but the stars and stripes is a nice consolation prize.”

“I did it on my own. I earned it.” McGrath said about his win. “It was hard
and I led from the start which is the hardest way to do it.”

The women's race was also a game of mathematics as Haywood and Katerina
Hanusova (CZE; Luna Chix) were stacked closely at the top of the overall.
Both of them had a legitimate shot at the overall title. The race began
with the usual suspects in the lead group. Haywood, Hanusova, Chrissy
Redden (CAN; Subaru-Gary Fisher), Alison Sydor (CAN; Trek-Volkswagen) and
Dara Marks (Flagstaff, Ariz; Sobe-Cannondale) all made the final selection.
As the race neared completion Hanusova put in a strong effort that, at
first, only Sydor could match. Haywood, with the overall series in
jeopardy, gave chase to the leaders along with Redden and Marks. In the
end, Sydor took the win a few seconds ahead of Hanusova, followed by Marks
and Redden. Haywood took fifth, collapsing after her dramatic finish, and
securing her enough points to take both the overall victory and the title
of U.S. National Short Track Champion.

“I'm super stoked!” I don't know how many of the riders knew the points
situation, but it was so close for the overall, it was so dramatic”,
Haywood explained. “Winning this title is so unbelievable. I've never
collapsed after a race before, I gave it everything I had out there, I was
hurting so bad.”

The 2003 NORBA National Championship Mountain Bike Series draws to a close
with the downhill finals later this afternoon.

Be sure to check out photos of all the action at www.usacycling.org/gallery.

The NORBA National Championships Mountain Bike Series is North America's
premier off-road cycling series. The series crowns USA Cycling's Mountain
Bike Champions. USA Cycling is the national governing body for cycle sport.
GaleForce Sports Marketing is the series management and promotions company,
and is recognized as the USA's leading cycling and events management group.