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INTERVIEW I 2023 GRAND NATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPION CRAIG DELONG P72 that first win and then go from there. It happened early in the year, so I was able to do that and move on." DeLong learned much from his mentorship with eight-time GNCC champ Kailub Russell, which showed in Georgia. "That was something that I knew going into the race, regard - less of whether it was raining or not, I knew I had to win. On Friday, Kailub and I were standing around talking, and he was like, 'You know what you got to do on Sun- day.' I said, 'Yeah, I do.' He said, 'You got to win.' I think it was nine points or something that I was behind, maybe more than that. I had to win to put myself back into the battle. That was the only thing on my mind. That was probably a good thing, honestly. It was kind of one of those things where, not that I didn't think about it all day, but it kind of just happened. I wasn't thinking of my lines and with how muddy and wet it was, I had to be smart, but other than that I didn't really think about any - thing else. That was a big help." That first win came in a mud race. "I grew up in Pennsylvania, so I'm used to riding the rocks," said DeLong. "I don't know if I would consider riding in the rocks a strong suit of mine, but I did grow up in the north, and it's rocky there, so I did ride rocks growing up. We rode in the mud quite a bit, too, growing up, my brother [Andrew] and I. It's one of those things where it's some - thing that you need to learn. That's just something we did. We raced a lot when we were younger. A lot of the local races we did ended up being muddy, even riding at home. When I was younger, I rode a lot. I really enjoyed riding. No matter the conditions, I would ride in it all." Even though his hobby has become a job, DeLong still en - joys riding as much as ever. But there are those times. "I enjoy it, but there are days when I don't," said DeLong. "In the middle of the summer in North Carolina, and it's hot— those are the days when I don't necessarily enjoy it. I enjoy riding my dirt bike. Don't get me wrong. But certain days are bet - ter than others. At a ripe 26 years of age, DeLong captured the first XC1 GNCC win of his career three races into this year's championship. He went on to win two more times, the most of anyone this season.