Stage 4 of the Mountain Bike Racing State Championship was a 9.2-mile cross country course at Hilltop. This course definitely got the attention of the racers, with root-filled single track and 1,000+ feet of climbing each lap. The weather was rainy, which made for a brutally slick ride. Five out of 13 expert racers didn't finish the race due to mechanicals, injuries or just plain ol' lack of energy to go on. Carey Grumelot won this stage &endash; as well as the overall State Championship Expert title &endash; for the weekend-long event.

MEN

Expert Division (27.6 miles):

1) Carey Grumelot 2 hours 39 minutes 26 seconds

2) Darren Mattingley 2:40:03

3) Andy Pohl 2:53:59

4) Jason Hill 2:57:18

5) Jim Cardwell 2:59:56

6) Marc Dunne 3:15:35

7) Todd Borke 3:20:00

8) Ranjodh Gill 3:45:28

Sport Division (18.4 miles):

1) Carl Kuhn 2:04:16

2) Justin Libby 2:07:03

3) Curtis Page 2:28:53

4) Mark Burson 2:33:42

Master Division (18.4 miles):

1) Jeff Yeaton 2:30:34

Junior Division (9.2 miles)

1) Alex Loan 1:46:15

WOMEN

Expert Division (27.6 miles):

1) Sheryl Loan 3:32:09

Sport Division (18.4 miles):

1) Eeva Latosho 2:20:44

2) Julie Garrigus 2:29:29

3) Nylene Wicks 2:43:06

4) Margaret Cunningham 2:48:02

5) Rose Theisen 3:15:37

Junior Division (9.2 miles):

1) Kinsey Loan 1:09:24

There were four stages of the 2007 Mountain Bike Racing State Championship: a modified hill climb at Arctic Valley, a Super Downhill from Prospects Heights to Hilltop Ski Chalet, a Short Track (aka Dirt Crit) at Kincaid Park and, finally, a brutal and wet cross country course at Hilltop Park. 13 racers, from 11-year old Junior Alex Loan to 48-year old Expert Jim Cardwell, competed in all four of the stages. After the first two stages, one second separated experts Carey Grumelot and Darren Mattingley, but then Grumelot pulled out ahead in the Short Track and the cross country course to beat Mattingley by 1 minute 23 seconds overall.

MEN

Expert Division:

1) Carey Grumelot 3 minutes 35 seconds 01 seconds

2) Darren Mattingley 3:36:24

3) Andy Pohl 3:53:07

4) Jim Cardwell 4:01:39

5) Marc Dunne 4:16:33

6) Todd Borke 4:23:48

7) Ranjodh Gill 4:49:29

Sport Division:

1) Carl Kuhn 3:07:20

Junior Division:

1) Alex Loan 2:48:58.

WOMEN

Expert Division:

1) Sheryl Loan 3:32:09.

Sport Division:

1) Julie Garrigus 3:41:49;

2) Margaret Cunningham 3:56:04;

3) Rose Theisen 4:37:41

Shareen Crosby, shareen@crosbysmiles.com, 907-317-8811