If any question remained as to who the strongest cross-country racers in the United States were, recently crowned national cross-country champions Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and Alison Dunlap erased those doubts Sunday with convincing solo wins at the national short track championships at Mammoth Mountain Resort, California.

The wins brought the third national STXC titles for both: Dunlap took the stars-and-stripes jersey in 1999 and 2002, while Horgan-Kobelski took the title in 2001 and 2003.

As she has done so many times this season, Dunlap (Luna) rode away from the women’s field unchallenged, breaking away on the second lap of the 25-minute event and extending her lead to 17 seconds before letting up to win by 12 seconds ahead of a chase group of four riders. Dara Marks-Marino (Ford Cycling) took second, with Kerry Barnholt (Subaru-Gary Fisher), Sue Haywood (Trek-VW) and Willow Koerber (RLX Ralph Lauren) rounding out the podium.

The men’s short track ended with a more riveting finale, as Horgan-Kobelski found himself off the front halfway through the race, surrounded by Giant-Pearl Izumi riders Adam Craig and Carl Decker. With a two-to-one advantage it appeared one of the Giant riders was likely to take the victory, but after taking a long pull at the front Craig suffered cramps and dropped off the pace, leaving Decker to go it alone against the three-time national XC champion.

“I had kidney cramps like I’ve never had before,” said Craig, who finished third. “After two laps they were gone, and I felt fine, but by then there was no chance I could get back on.”

... as does Horgan-Kobelski.

Photo: Tom Moran/Singletrack

With three laps remaining Horgan-Kobelski attacked Decker on the course’s paved downhill straightaway, which led into a strong headwind before a quick U-turn into the start/finish area. With Decker unable to respond and alone in the wind, Horgan-Kobelski soloed in for the win.

“I was riding outside of myself those last few laps,” Horgan-Kobelski said. “I was really glad Carl wasn’t able to respond, because that was all I had. This is just a perfect way to end the season.”

With his second-place STXC finish Decker had a career weekend, adding to his third-place in the cross-country event Friday and his win in the national single-speed championship Saturday.

In the women’s downhill, Dunlap’s Luna teammate Marl Streb took a second national title in two days, following her Super D victory on Saturday with a second consecutive national downhill title. Though she crashed early on, Streb managed to beat Lisa Sher (Chumba Wumba) by over 17 seconds. It was a poignant finish for Streb, who claims she plans to retire from downhill racing.

“This was my last race,” Streb said. “I’ll be back next year with Luna, but I won’t be racing any more downhill events.”

Streb’s teammate Kathy Pruitt, the 2004 NORBA series champion and considered by many to be the favorite for the title, crashed twice and had to settle for fourth-place.

“This is what I wanted,” Pruitt said. “This and the world championships [where she finished 6th]. I’m really disappointed. All I needed to do is ride consistently. Instead, I crashed and hit a rock with my face.”

The men’s downhill event was won by a relative unknown, 22-year-old Chris Del Bosco (Oakley-Lenz Sport-Fox Racing Shox), who had his finest career ride, beating 17-year-old Duncan Riffle (Spy-Fox Shox) by three seconds.

Of the more familiar names on the circuit, Rich Houseman took fourth, 4.75-seconds back, while Colin Bailey (Maxxis) took ninth, 8.88 seconds back. Former national downhill champion Brian Lopes (Hyundai-GT-Oakley) finished 13th, 13.88 seconds back.

Del Bosco, whose best prior result was a top-10 finish at the series finals in Durango, attributed much of his success to his equipment.

“I’ve just been getting more and more comfortable with my bike,” said the 22-year-old from Vail, Colorado. “I’ve won a couple of regional races, but never anything close to this.”

Men’s National Short Track Championship
1. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, RLX Ralph Lauren, 26:27.18
2. Carl Decker, Giant-Pearl Izumi, 26:35.08
3. Adam Craig, Giant-Pearl Izumi, 26:52.05
4. Todd Wells, GT-Hyundai, 27:06.54
5. Ryan Trebon, Kona-Clarks-Les Gets, 27:14.63Women’s National Short Track Championship
1. Alison Dunlap, Luna, 25:39.24
2. Dara Marks-Marino, Ford Cycling, 25:51.98
3. Kerry Barnholt, Subaru-Gary Fisher, 25:56.46
4. Sue Haywood, Trek-VW, 26:04.81
5. Willow Koerber, RLX Ralph Lauren, 26:06.63Men’s National Downhill Championship
1. Chris Del Bosco, Oakley-LenzSport-Fox Racing Shox, 5:13.06
2. Duncan Riffle, Spy-Fox Shox, at 3.10
3. Henry O’Donnell, Santa Cruz Syndicate, at 4.11
4. Rich Houseman, Foesfunn Racing, at 4.75
5. Curtis Keene, WTB-Fox Racing Shox, at 6.00Women’s National Downhill Championship
1. Marla Streb, Luna, 6:03.36
2. Lisa Sher, Chumba Wumba, at 17.2
3. Melissa Buhl, KHS Bicycles, at 30.27
4. Kathy Pruitt, Luna, at 33.35
5. Danni Connolly, KHS, at 36.36