FEATURES

Talented Triumvirate....

joshie-B.gifFor the last two-and-a-half decades, three men have dominated Duluth's multisport scene: Brian Bich, Rhett Bonner and Rod Raymond. These guys are now, or about to be, fifty-genarians and for the last few seasons have not raced as much as in years' past. They've been busy. Brian, a multiple national champion, two-time US AOY nominee and 2008 US MOY, has been busy parenting. Bonner, also a former AG national champ, has been busy saving lives, and Raymond has been busy entrepreneuring like a banshee. Rod seems to open a new restaurant every few days.

While Duluth's original Big 3 have chosen to step out of the limelight for a while, a new triumvirate of local triathletes has taken their place: Josh Blankenheim, Nick Nygaard and Mike Ward....

 

Check out their competitive highlights:

mike-and-nick.gifJOSH BLANKENHEIM (photo above) - Josh seeks out the most competitive races and excels in them. The former Rookie of the Year and Most Improved nominee's 2015 highlights include 2nds at Buffalo Olympic, Capitol City, Heart of the Lakes and Brewhouse Olympic, four of the most competitive races in our region. (2015 Team Minnesota Rank: 6th)

NICK NYGAARD - The 2014 Rookie of the Year has won three of the ten races he's entered to date. Highlights in 2015 include his win at Timberman, his CR at Brewhouse Sprint (59:41) and his 2nd at Superior Man Half. (2015 Team Minnesota Rank: 8th)

MIKE WARD - The amiable 26-year-old earned a Most Improved nomination in 2015 and has posted at least six wins since 2011, the year he got serious about multisports. His podium efforts against great fields at Capitol City and Buffalo Olympic were, in our opinion, the highlights of his 2015 season. He also demonstrated his long-course aptitude last year with a 4:19 / 4th place finish at Toughman. (2015 Team Minnesota Rank:  11th)

Photo R - Mike and Nick after IMOO '15.

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