National Cycling Championships -- Randolph's Drive Keys Top-5 Finish

STANWOOD - Perhaps Gregory Randolph's surprising top-five finish in the time trial of the Fresca National Cycling Championships will give him incentive to call Seattle home.

The native of McCall, Idaho, has spent the past six months living out of his 1979 Volkswagen camper van while driving up and down the West Coast in pursuit of cycling races.

"I drove something like 9,500 miles in the last three months," said Randolph, who completed the 24.8-mile road course through Snohomish County farmlands in 53 minutes, 38.96 seconds. He was the top male amateur finisher and placed fourth overall in a field littered with world-class professionals.

"There's only two ways to get to the races, fly or drive," Randolph said. "It's a lot cheaper to drive even though you spend eight weeks away from home. You got to do it, especially if you're starting out."

Yesterday's finish, the best of the season for the 22-year-old, strengthened Randolph's ties to the region. He began riding for Seattle-based Ray's Boathouse/Big Time Pizza cycling team two years ago and has grown close to several teammates.

"They've been really good to me," Randolph said. "Everyone is a Seattle-area rider except me, but they've taken me in . . . We have as good as chance as any pro team of showing well this week."

A teammate, Paul Dahlke of Seattle, is favored to win the criterium race tomorrow at West Seattle's Alki Point. He finished third last year. The women's race begins at 9:30 a.m. and the men start at noon.

The national championships end Sunday with a road race through downtown Seattle. Unlike yesterday's time trial, both races will crown a national amateur champion.

With the exception of Randolph, there were few surprises in the men's time trial. Steve Hegg, a 1984 Olympic gold medalist, claimed a 52:26.29 victory ahead of Team Saturn riders Scott Mercier (53:02.18) and Norman Alvis (53:16.37). Alvis won the U.S. professional road-racing title last weekend.

"I felt great the whole time, it was a great course," Hegg said.

After crossing the finish, Hegg had to wait several long minutes before learning of his victory because at least eight riders were still on the course, including defending champion Clay Moseley of Albuquerque, N.M.

Moseley, last year's Boy Wonder after winning the national title in his first serious year of racing, ran into trouble yesterday.

He collided with a jogger's dog and finished 11th in 55:05.10.

In the women's race, Karen Kurreck, the world time trial champion, also had trouble with dogs on the course among other things.

"In short, it was a nightmare," Kurreck said. "I couldn't imagine more things going wrong than what happened (yesterday)."

She was twice chased by dogs, had bike troubles early in the race and took a wrong turn off the course on her way to the finish.

Still, Kurreck finished seventh in 1 hour, 1 minute, 51 seconds.

"I can laugh about it now," she said. "What else can I do but laugh?"

Kurreck's problems opened the door for Mari Paulsen, a senior at the University of Colorado. After placing sixth the past two years, Paulsen won her first national title, finishing in 57:59.16.

The time trial was held on Interstate 5 last year, but U.S. Cycling Federation officials chose Stanwood because of its flat roads and scenic farmlands.

However, they did not mean for the scenery to interact with riders.

"It's not something that we're not used to . . . we deal with it from time to time," USCF Managing Director Steve Penny said. "It's unfortunate. We would hope that those dogs would have been put on a leash, but that's part of being in a public environment. It's part of bike racing."

----------------------------------------------------------. National cycling championships

Field: More than 300 cyclists, including amateurs and professionals.

Admission: Free.

Sponsors: Haggen Foods & Pharmacy, Sports Pep, West Seattle Physical Therapy, Spud Fish & Chips, Alki Bicycle Company, Microsoft, Fresca, Group Health and Saab.

Criterium championships

Where: West Seattle (Alki Point).

When: Tomorrow. Women, 9:30 a.m.; men, noon.

Course: Flat 1.1-mile course. Women ride 28 laps (31 miles). Men cover 45 laps (50 miles).

Road race championships

Where: Seattle.

When: Sunday, June 11. Men, 8 a.m.; women, 1:30 p.m.

Course: 13-mile course through five Seattle neighborhoods. Elevation gain of 1,250 feet on each lap. Start/finish at Westlake Park. Men ride eight laps (104 miles). Women cover four laps (52 miles).