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Sean, Nathan & Preston are 2024 TOY Nominees...

Friday, 08 November 2024 00:10

By Simon

2024 Minnesota Multisport Honors - Here are the official nominees for 2024 Male Triathlete of the Year:

SEAN COOLEY, 39, Stillwater (photo)

An avid bike racer, Sean only had time for three tris in '24, but turned in POY efforts at two of those races. His 4:07 at Ironman 70.3 Des Moines was the fastest half IM time by a Minnesota triathlete last season, and his course record (4:10!) win at ultra-challenging Square Lake 70.3 were special, and his 2nd place finish at Chisago under truly adverse conditions was pretty dang good, too. Well deserved nomination.

NATHAN KIM, 22, Minneapolis

A rising star, his 2024 resume was highlighted by a big win at Chisago 70.3, and a fast 2nd at Maple Grove Olympic, where his 1:52:50 was only three seconds slower than Preston Youngdahl's course record-setting effort. KIm's Top 5s against deep fields at Door County Half and Ironman 70.3 Madison were also very impressive...

Elena, Heather & Caryn are 2024 TOY Nominees...

Wednesday, 06 November 2024 00:10

Photo - TOY nominee Elena Jasper with her dad, Chuck Hengel, who is nominated for GMOY.

By Garfunkel

2024 Minnesota Multisport Honors - Triathlete of the Year is the most prestigious accolade that the Minnesota Multisport Honors Committee awards. The winner, by nature of the award, will also be ranked on top of Team Minnesota when that announcement is made. Here are the 3 women that Simon and I agreed earned Triathlete of the Year nominations for 2024:

Elena Jasper, 27, Deephaven:
Elena raced prolifically in 2024, which we love. She started the season with a 70.3 PR (4:47) in Chattanooga, won Lake Minnetonka sprint and Clearwater Olympic, was 3rd at Timberman Olympic and Maple Grove Olympic. She also won a 70.3 (Chisago) by pretty much tying her PR, and then proceeded to end the year with another 70.3 PR of 4:44 at Madison, placing 5th overall.

Caryn, Caryn & Heather...

Monday, 04 November 2024 00:10

By Simon

2024 Minnesota Multisport Honors - Here are the three finalists for 2024 Female Performance of the Year:

CARYN WIKMAN, 34, St. Louis Park - Win @ Ironman 70.3 Madison. Her time--4:37:08--was a personal best and stands as the third quickest women's perormance in race history.

CARYN WIKMAN, 34, St. Louis Park - W @ Maple Grove Olympic. Her 2:05:09 was the fastest Olympic-esque time by a MInnesota woman a local race in 2024. The women's field at MGO was the deepest of the year on the MN tri scene.

HEATHER LENDWAY, 40, St. Paul - Duh! The newly minted 40-year-old was the overall women's winner at Age Group Nationals in Atlantic City. HL's 2:07:11 was the fastest legitimate Olympic clocking by a Minnesota amateur woman since 2014. (Note: Heather had also won the National Championship in 2013 and 2014.)...

Sean, Nathan & Preston are 2024 POY Nominees...

Saturday, 02 November 2024 00:10

By Garfunkel

2024 saw a post-pandemic rebound in the depth of elite racing at local triathlons. More guys competed for the podium at more races, but a few performances stood out from the rest. Below are the 3 performances from Minnesota men that Simon and I agree deserved to be nominated for Performance of the Year.

Sean Cooley’s Course Record at Square Lake Half:
Sean, a former Minnesota Triathlete of the Year and perennial nominee, set his fastest half distance time of the year at Des Moines 70.3 in 4:07:57. However, his solo-effort time of 4:10:53 on Square Lake’s challenging course made it his most impressive result of the season in our minds.

Nathan Kim’s Win at Chisago Half:
Nathan, at only 22 years old, won the Chisago Lakes half in a time of 4:11:50 – quite the impressive feat for an athlete of his age on such a hot and windy day....