updated 4:31 p.m. ET Jan. 4, 2009

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. - John Napier and Bree Schaaf won the U.S. National Bobsled Championships at Mount Van Hoevenberg on Sunday and qualified for the World Championships.

Napier, of Schenectady, N.Y., and brakeman Cory Butner of Yucaipa, Calif., won in 3 minutes, 45.87 seconds in the four-heat race. They held off Mike Kohn of Chantilly, Va., and brakeman Jacob Miller of Waterford, Va., by 0.30 seconds.

“I knew I had to put down my best runs to stay in the lead,” Napier said. “I feel content.”

Steve Holcomb of Park City, Utah, and Curtis Tomasevicz of Shelby, Neb., were third.

In the women’s race, Schaaf, of Bremerton, Wash., and brakewoman Emily Azevedo of Chico, Calif., won in 3:51.98. They defeated Phoebe Burns of Lake Placid, N.Y., and brakewoman Jamie Greubel of Arlington, Mass., by 2.73 seconds.

“I felt utter relief crossing the finish in the last run,” said Schaaf, who said she didn’t sleep the night before. “There’s no room for error.”

The World Championships will be held next month in Lake Placid, N.Y.