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Weekend Preves...

Monday, 12 August 2013 06:10

PIGMAN HALF XVI - Our region's oldest half IM will be happen next Sunday at Pleasant Creek State Park near Cedar Rapids. For the second straight year the event will also feature an Olympic distance race. Visit Pigman's WEBSITE to see if registration is still open.

As usual, the half will be ultra-competitive, featuring past champs David Thompson (8x winner) , Kortney Haag, Julie Hull and Suzy Fox. Also returning will be AG course record holders Kevin O'Connor (40-44M), David Lyon (50-54M) and Greg Taylor (55-59M). Yes, we believe that DKT will chalk up his 9th victory here which will be his 17th career half win. Also, we expect 2012 women's champ Suzy Fox to repeat. Because we were impressed with Wisconsin guy Scott Bowe at Ironman Coeur D'Alene, where he was 2nd amateur in 9:12, he's our pick to place 2nd in the men's half.

We're picking a pair of Iowans--Dan Bretscher (2007 US AOY) and Daniella Williams--to win the Olympic race, though we'd love to see former Rochestererian, Joanna Hall steal the women's title....

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2013 Junior Report Card...

Monday, 12 August 2013 05:10

(Photo - Buffalo's Michael Burgdorf could receive a Junior of the Year nomination st season's end.)

Junior of the Year - The MMA Selectors are scrutinizing the competitive bios of a dozen 19-and-under Minnesota multisport athletes. Over the last several years, nominated girls have outnumbered nominated boys in this coed category. That might not be the case this year. The reasons for this are A. 2012 JOY Greta Danielson, 19, St. Cloud has been awesome and is currently distancing herself from the rest of the teen girls, and B. Three of the most successful boys are truly distinguishing themselves. Buffalo's Michael Burgdorf, 19, for instance, is winning his division in every race he enters, but we occasionally question his speed. Is the gulf between his times and those of credentialed adult racers too wide? Or does it fall within an acceptable range?

Then there's Chris Lam, 17, of Rochester. This young man is just plain fast, but does he race often enough for his handful of efforts to override the performances of guys like Burgdorf, whose racing volume is high?

Then there's Nordic star Zach Goldberg, 19, of Minnetrista, who is coming on strong in the second half of the season and has even managed to beat his dad, David, who has truly kicked butt in his 50-54 AG this season....

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More Cool Weekend Stuff...UPDATED...

Monday, 12 August 2013 01:10

OTTAWA DUATHLON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - MTN congratulates all of the Minnesota participants who competed at Du Worlds in Ontario on Saturday. Three of our state's run-bike-runners medaled! They are Pam Stevens (2nd 60-64M - photo), Mike Buenting (3rd 35-39M) and Paige Danielson (1st 16-19W Sprint Race). RESULTS

10th annual GREEN LAKE OLYMPIC & SPRINT TRIATHLONS - Sarah Berger posted her first career multisport win on Sunday. Sharing the Olympic race's Top Step with her was John Heinlein. The sprint race was won by rookie star Casey Miller, who also was victorious at the Walker Tri, and South Dakota's Teresa Van Hyfte, who has great hair and also won this race in 2012. The weather was perfect for racing and the pulled pork was yummy.

Rand Middleton's coverage will appear on MTN later this week. RESULTS...

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Minnesotans by the Numbers...

Saturday, 10 August 2013 16:10

2013 USAT AG NATIONALS - Here's some cool data about Minnesota athletes at yesterday's Olympic Nationals:

- Heather Lendway WON the women's overall title! Her time of 2:05:37 was the fastest women's time in Nationals history (1989-present).

- Minnesota women in the Top 100:

1. Heather Lendway, 29, St. Paul - 2:05:37 (1st overall/1st 25-29W)

13. Claire Bootsma, 26, Mpls - 2:10:05...

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