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2019 Most Improved Men....

Wednesday, 09 October 2019 23:10

MINNESOTA MULTISPORT HONORS - There are several guys who have yet to earn a spot on Team Minnesota, but are vying for spots this year. We suspect that two or more of the guys we are profiling here will make the 2019 Team, but only one of the them will receive the "MOST IMPROVED" designation.

Four men from the following list will receive official MI nominations. Here, in alpha order, are those men and their 2019 racing highlights:

JACOB KEEHAN, 30, Maple Grove

2019 Highlights:

3rd @ Gear West Duathlon

4th @ Minneapolis Triathlon

5th @ Lake Minnetonka

11th amateur @ Ironman Wisconsin - 9:33:07

COMMENT: What impressed us most about Jacob was his race selection. He chose our region's most competitive races, and raced admirably against established elites.

2019 Grand Masters Stars...

Monday, 07 October 2019 23:10

2019 MINNESOTA MULTISPORT HONORS – Discussions have begun to determine this year's MMH nominees. Only two of the categories—Rookie of the Year and Junior of the Year—are, as they say, have slam dunk candidates.

But before we reveal the ROY and JOY selections, we want to acquaint you with other categories.

We love to name-drop, so here, in alpha order, are the names of eight athletes that are being considered for nominations in the coed Grand Master of the Year (55+ women, 60+ men) category, along with their 2019 highlights:

HELEN GUNTHER 62 EXCELSIOR (photo below)

- 1st AG @ Lake Minnetonka – AGR
- 7th overall – 1st AG @ Gear West Duathlon
- 1st AG @ Timberman Olympic – AGR
- 1st AG @ Heart of the Lakes...

Conspicuous Absentees...

Saturday, 05 October 2019 23:10

Photo - Ted Treise hugging his fiance Dani Vsetecka after her heartbreaking illness-necessitated DNF at Augusta 70.3.

The Minnesota Multisport Honors Committee is currently evaluating potential nominees in twelve categories, as well as determining which twenty athletes--10 men, 10 women--will comprise this year's “Team Minnesota.”

It safe to say that this year's list will look different than prior rosters. This is because many of the “usual suspects” may not be eligible for consideration, that is, if the Committee decides to adhere to its rule that athletes must have turned in AT LEAST THREE outstanding performances during the season. (By “outstanding” we mean that performances have to match, exceed, or at least approach, the historically best efforts set on the courses in question.) This is because many of our state's premier multisport athletes, men and women who are perennial MMH nominees, have either taken the year off, or do not have more than two outstanding performances on their 2019 resumes.

Here are some of the top athletes than may not be eligible for MMH consideration....

Mayoral Selfies, Super Soakers & Mindfulness...

Thursday, 03 October 2019 23:10

By Erin Lahti

Augusta 70.3 Race Report - In order to understand what this race meant to me, you must first understand what I went through to get here. My “A” Race was supposed to be Ironman 70.3 Madison. However, 5 weeks before race day I was rear-ended and herniated 3 discs in my lower neck. I pulled out of the race altogether. My coach and I decided to switch gears and focus on short course. My next big race of the season was Nationals in Cleveland in August. I got a flat tire early on the bike. So, that is 2 big races of the season where I didn’t see a finish line. I got the go ahead from my doctor to pick another 70.3. Other races were selling out. I pulled the trigger on Augusta and bought a plane ticket....

Masters Women Rule! ...

Wednesday, 02 October 2019 23:10

2019 was the "Year of the Masters Women."

Several of our state's most accomplished female multisport athletes "aged-up" in 2019, most notably CATHY YNDESTAD, KORTNEY HAAG and ELAINE NELSON. And several other 40-plussers had stellar seasons, as well. Between them, 12 Minnesota female Masters had amassed 25 wins in 2019.

And there are others, like ANDREA MYERS, 42, JULIA WESIBECKER, 52, CHRISTEL KIPPENHAN, 53, and AMY WOOLSEY, 53, who didn't post outright wins, but performed brilliantly in 2019 nonetheless.

Put into perspective, no more than two Minnesota Masters women had ever earned berths on Team Minnesota in any given year. This year, however, it is reasonable to assume that 4-6 over-age-40 women will make the team.

Cool, huh!

Here are the Minnesota Masters women who won races this year:

JACQUELYN BACIGALUPI, 42, Baxter - 1st @ Lakes Country

SARA CARLSON, 41, Brainerd - 1st @ Young Life Olympic

JENNIFER FITZHARRIS-FUNK, 44, Minneapolis (photo L) - 1st @ YWCA Women's Triathlon, plus 4 other podium finishes....