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GMOY King....

Thursday, 19 November 2015 00:10

MINNESOTA MULTISPORT AWARDS - Today we explain some of the thinking behind the selection of NEIL KING as 2015 GRAND MASTER OF THE YEAR.

- HANK LARSEN, 75, Glencoe -  The 2008 GMOY's resume was impressive, but lacked volume. He only raced three times, winning each time and setting two AG CRs. The Selectors would have liked Hank to have 1-2 more efforts.

- 1st time-nominee SHERI SCHROCK, 61, Cohasset, raced often and with nice results. The highlight was her AG win at Long Distance Worlds in Sweden. Sheri managed to beat fellow nominee PAM STEVENS (62, Sartell) at Apple, but lost to Pam by a substantial margin at Chicago Worlds. Sheri's 7ths in her AG at Nationals and Worlds were perceived as solid, not quite stellar, results.

Pam, a two-time GMOY, demonstrated nice speed in her divisional wins at COLT and especially Maple Grove Olympic. The committee felt that Pam's speed vs. Sheri's strenth / volume ...

cancelled each other somewhat, though Sheri probably would have gotten the nod if the final pick were to be her or Pam.

- NEIL KING's resume was basically unblemished AND at 66, was racing well alongside his 50-year-old peers. His Silver Medal effort at Nationals behind two-time 65-69 National Champion Freddie Ferraro of Texas, capped a season that gave him, in the minds of most MMA Selectors, a slight edge over Schrock.

NOTE: After the awards were determined, Sheri competed at Long Distance Du Nationals in Texas, where she placed 2nd in her AG. Because the performance was in November, it will be considered part of her 2016 resume. Erin Hydeman-Farrens' 10:14 (9th amateur) at Ironman Arizona will apply to her 2016 resume, as well.)