NORBA National Series Final - E2

Durango Mountain Resort, CO, USA , August 28-29, 2004

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Race 2 - August 28: Mountain cross

Carter, Kintner claim top honors

By USA Cycling

Just like in today's cross-country race, the pro mountain cross event saw the day's winners take the overall titles. Jill Kintner (Murrieta, Calif.) and Eric Carter (Temecula, Calif.) posted the victories on the technical course to wrap up an exciting season of mountain cross action.

The final four women standing after elimination rounds were Kintner, Tara Llanes (Los Alamitos, Calif.), 16-year-old Tracey Hannah (AUS) and Leana Gerrard (Sumner, Wash.). Kintner took the lead right out of the gate, and maintained it through all of the course's sharp corners. Hannah was following in second at first, but Llanes took over that position about half way down the course.

Kintner handled the fast course with authority to take the overall series title, while Llanes followed in second in both the race and the overall standings. Hannah claimed third place, while Gerard took fourth. Melissa Buhl won the consolation round for the final spot on the podium and earned enough points to keep her third place in the NORBA Series standings.

In the men's finals, Carter lined up in the gate with Mike King (San Diego, Calif.), Rich Houseman (Pasadena, Calif,) and yesterday's #1 qualifier - Brian Lopes (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) Carter and King battled it out for the win, with Carter taking the victory and the overall title. King finished right behind him in second, while Houseman and Lopes took third and fourth respectively. It was Jared Graves who bested the competition in the consolation round to take fifth place tonight.

Gravity action on the NORBA circuit comes to a close tomorrow with the men's and women's downhill finals. The race for NORBA Series bragging rights will be very close as Greg Minnaar leads the men's standings with 899 points, only 46 points ahead of John Kirkcaldie. Even closer is the contest between Kathy Pruitt (964 points) and Bernadita Pizarro Lazo (937 points). Tomorrow's downhill contest will be the final event at Durango Mountain Resort, ending the 2004 NORBA National Championship Series.

Results

Men
 
1 Eric Carter               
2 Mike King                 
3 Rich Houseman             
4 Brian Lopes               
5 Jared Graves              
 
Women
 
1 Jill Kintner              
2 Tara Llanes               
3 Tracey Hannah             
4 Leana Gerrard             
5 Melissa Buhl

Final overall standings

Men
 
1 Eric Carter (USA)         
2 Mike King (USA)           
3 Rich Houseman (USA)       
 
Women
 
1 Jill Kintner (USA)        
2 Tara Llanes (USA)         
3 Melissa Buhl (USA)