Race Coverage

Danis Fischer & Vsetecka Rock Rural Iowa......

Monday, 17 August 2015 00:10

18th Annual Pigman Half - David Thompson came into yesterday's event hoping to record the 100th victory of his multisport career. The win would also be his 18th at the 70.3 distance and his 10th at this event.

Rookie pro Dani Fischer, an honorary Minnesotan now residing in Indianapolis, came into the race hoping to take a big bite out of Malaika Homo's 2006 course record 4:35:35.

DKT came close (4:04:23) to achieving his goals. Leading after the swim and bike, he was overtaken in the run by fellow pro Blake Becker (4:03:43) of Madison, Wisconsin. In the end, 40 seconds separated these athletes, who led the way against what was arguably the most talented men's field in Big Pig history.

Kentucky pro Mike Hermanson rounded out the men's podium (4:06:14).

FYI, the top position on the amateur podium was taken Toughman Minnesota champ Eric Engel (4:13:36), who placed 5th overall. The next two spots were earned by White Bear Lake's Kris Spoth (4:16:30) and Missourian Kevin Denny (4:18:18).  Once again, the fastest master was Medina's Kevin O'Connor (4:22:14)....

While Thompson came close to achieving his goals, Fischer did what she set out to do, knocking almost four minutes off the Malaika's pro / overall race record (4:31:43).

The 2014 Long Course National Champion had plenty of time to recover before the women's amateur winner, gifted rookie triathlete Dani Vsetecka of Rochester, crossed the finishing line in 4:41:33, giving her two half IM wins (amateur) in two starts. She had also won at Door County last month. Dani V has only raced four times in her career and has won three times and finished 2nd on the other occasion. Yes, she is the frontrunner for 2015 Minnesota Rookie of the Year.

Rounding out the women's amateur podium were Danna Herrick (4:43:51) of Urbandale, Iowa and three-time Pigman champion Kortney Haag (4:47:48), of Maple Grove, who is Kona-bound. St. Paul's Bridget McCoy's long course debut produced a 4:58:22, putting her in 5th place. RESULTS

Photo - Dani Fischer and Dani Vsetecka.