University of Portland freshman Trevor Dunbar overcame a bout of strep throat and minimal preparation work to win the U.S. junior cross country championship on Saturday under sunny skies in Spokane.

Dunbar plans to redshirt the indoor and spring outdoor seasons, and will lead the U.S. junior men to the world championship meet in Poland.

The Kodiak, Alaska native made his statement to the field early, racing out to the front from the gun and building a huge lead. He gave back some of that lead over the final two miles, but won comfortably.

Meanwhile, there was little question about the men’s and women’s races. Oregon Track Club/Portland runners Shalane Flanagan and Dathan Ritzenhein, world-caliber talents, sped away with national titles. Flanagan won handily. Ritzenhein was with two other runners at 9,000 meters and made his move at that point and ran away from his challengers over the final 3K.

Gresham native Ryan Vail finished sixth and made his second consecutive U.S. team.