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2017 POYs: Women...

Sunday, 22 October 2017 19:10

2017 MINNESOTA MULTISPORT AWARDS - FEMALE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR -  It took a while to whittle the number of great performances to the four that would receive nominations. This process included the use of  "The Matt Payne Rule,"  wherein no athlete can have more than two nominated performance. A four-time Triathlete of the Year, Matt, on more than one occasion, had three or more worthy performances. The desire to include the performances of several athletes, not just one, or even two, prompted the institution of the MPR.

Gaby Bunten (photo) was affected by this rule this year, thus Selectors had to determine which two of her three nomination-worthy performances to choose.

Here are the the official F-POY nominees:

- GABY BUNTEN - Victory @ Minneapolis Triathlon - 2:08:34 - Gaby outraced an outstanding field, including two-time Duathlon National champ Danielle Dingman (MO) and 2016 Minnesota Triathlete of the Year Hanna Grinaker.

- GABY BUNTEN - 5th overall woman at USAT Olympic Nationals - Cracking the overall Top 5 at Nationals is a big deal. Gaby joins Cathy Yndestad (2008, 2009) and Heather Lendway (2013, 2014) as the only Minnesota women to reach the Top 5 at Nationals since the millennial turn...

- CHRISTINA ROBERTS - Victory @ Superior Man Half IM - 4:37:04 - PR - One of her six victories in 2017, Christina's performance at SM was the fastest 70.3 time by a Minnesota amateur woman this year.

- DANI VSETECKA - Victory @ Madison 70.3 - Dani outraced former pros Dani Fischer, Morgan Chaffin and Jessica Jacobs, and was only 26-minutes behind the male winner, Ryan Giuliano, arguably America's premier amateur 70.3 racer since 2015. Typical male/female time differentials for elite amater men and women is 30-35 minutes.

Also considered:

- Gaby Bunten's win at Life Time South Beach Olympic.

- Kortney Haag's course record at Graniteman Big Lake Olympic.

- Kortney Haag's 2nd / 1st Minnesotan at Chisago Lakes (4:39:50).

- Diane Hankee's win at Gear West Duathlon.

- Nicole Heininger's course record at New Bri.

- Christina Roberts' win at Heart of the Lakes.

- Dani Vsetecka's win at Apple Duathlon.

Have you gotten your Minnesota Multisport Awards Party tickets yet? LINK