Race Coverage

Heroic Heather!

Monday, 25 April 2016 06:10

The MTN Guys couldn't be happier for HEATHER LENDWAY.

Last Sunday we watched her do what few, if any, female triathletes can do: ride with Sarah Haskins and Alecia Kaye, arguably the two premier non-drafting short course (sprint and Olympic) athletes in the world. Consistent sub-2-hour performers at 1500-40-10, they normally come off the bike with humongous leads.

On Sunday at the 33rd edition of the prestigious St. Anthony's Triathlon in sunny, toasty St.  Petersburg, Florida, Haskins and Kaye were 2:16 and 2:22 ahead of the field, one that featured true stars like Lauren Goss and Mirinda Carfrae, as well as underrated elites Kaitlin Donner and Jennifer Spieldenner, when they dismounted.

But the superstars could not drop the newly engaged (photo  L  - HL designed her own ring, which is kinda blingy and features an awesome black diamond!) Lendway who, after a preme-earning swim (19:18), ...

matched pedal strokes with the superstars. Alecia Kaye was first into T2 in 1:20:49, Heather was next in 1:20:53, followed by Haskins in 1:20:55. Kaye earned the bike preme with her 1:00:29 split, which was just six seconds faster than Lendway's. 1:00:35! Fast 40K, huh!

The more experienced twosome--they have more than two decades of pro racing between them--out-transitioned the sophomore pro from St. Paul by 15-seconds.

More than two minutes after Heather embarked on the run, the pro women's chase pack, led by Goss, entered T2. Could Lendway hold onto her podium spot as the leaders sped to eventual 1:58 finishes? Or had her super efforts on the swim and bike taken a toll?

It appeared that the latter was the case. It also needs to be mentioned that the 17-member women's pro field had more than its share of fast runners.

In the end, Heather finished in 7th place, which paid $750. ($1250 with swim preme) Her effort was nothing short of heroic, and it was great to be there to see it.

The 2015 pro Rookie of the Year learned SO MUCH last Sunday, and many of her elite peers would agree that her growth curve puts her ahead of where they were at the same points in their careers.

FYI, Heather's time was 2:04:20, which was an Olympic distance PR by 45 seconds.

Fellow St. Paul pro DAVID THOMPSON, an umteen-time veteran of St. A's, placed 12th among the 23-member men's pro field. His time was 1:54:06.

DKT grew a beard over the winter, much of which was spent doing home improvement stuff. Both--beard and home--look really good.  RESULTS