September 27, 2004 – Alison Dunlap (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Jeremy
Horgan-Kobelski (Boulder, Colo.) made it two for two at the USA Cycling
Mountain Bike National Championships, as they both took home a second
stars and stripes jersey in this afternoon’s short track contest.

With a strong wind and no teammates to work with, Dunlap made her move in
only the second lap on the dusty course, and stayed away for the remainder
of the race. A strong group of four chasers formed right away including
Dara Marks-Marino (Flagstaff, Ariz.), Sue Haywood (Davis, W.Va.), Kerry
Barnholt (Boulder, Colo.), and Willow Koerber (Gunnison, Colo.).

Marks-Marino made a late race attempt to break away from the chase group
and catch the leader on her own, but the other three pulled her back in
again. Dunlap’s lead continued to grow as the lap cards came out, and she
crossed the finish line to bring a happy ending to her 2004 season.
Marks-Marino rolled across the line next, taking her second silver medal of
the week behind Alison. Barnholt earned the bronze, while Haywood and
Koerber fought right at the finish line for fourth spot with Haywood
winning the battle, and Koerber securing the fifth spot on the podium.

Before the men’s race began, pro racer Heather Irmiger’s advice was “Hop
on a wheel and kiss it.” The wind made it very difficult today for riders
to stay away on their own, but just like Dunlap, Horgan-Kobelski managed
to accomplish the same feat.

After a lap one breakaway attempt by Barry Wicks (Santa Cruz, Calif.),
Adam Craig (Corinth, Maine), Ryan Trebon (Corvallis, Ore.), and Jeremy
Horgan-Kobelski rode together off the front. JHK and Adam Craig dropped
Trebon and worked together to pick up the pace. The U23 National Team’s
Alan Obye (Mendon, Vt.) and John Devine (Dixon, Ill.) bridged up to
Trebon, making strong attempts to catch the race leaders.

About halfway through the race, Carl Decker (Bend, Ore.) worked his way up
to his Giant/Pearl Izumi teammate Adam Craig, putting the solo Ralph
Lauren rider at a disadvantage. At the same time, Horgan-Kobelski’s fellow
Olympian Todd Wells (Durango, Colo.) went to the front of the chase group
to lead Trebon, Obye, and Devine. A couple of laps later, Wells went off
the front of the chase group to catch the leaders.

As the lap cards came out, Adam Craig was dropped off the back of the lead
group, and JHK attacked to form a gap on Decker. He stayed away for the
remainder of the race, with Decker, Craig, Wells, and Trebon evenly spaced
out behind him. Horgan-Kobelski held his lead all the way to the end. With
two national championship titles and the honor of being selected to the
U.S. Olympic Team, Horgan-Kobelski can call 2004 an incredible season.

Women’s Short Track Results

1. Alison Dunlap
2. Dara Marks-Marino
3. Kerry Barnholt
4. Sue Haywood
5. Willow Koerber

Men’s Short Track Results

1. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski
2. Carl Decker
3. Adam Craig
4. Todd Wells
5. Ryan Trebon