Race Coverage

Rochester's Wrecking Balls....

Sunday, 01 May 2016 06:10

The women's podium: Ruth, Jenn and Dani. Two records and a PR!

FALLS DUATHLON - They came in like a pair of wrecking balls and smithereenisized the women's pro and amateur records at the 8th annual Falls Du last Saturday. Actually, there wasn't a prior pro record, but if there was one, Ruth would have nuked it.

Rochester's Ruth Brennan Morrey, a two-time US Elite Duathlete of the Year, and Dani Vsetecka, Minnesota's 2015 Rookie of the Year, managed to crack the 1:10 mark on Falls' 2-14-3 course, RBM by a sick 4:23, Dani by twelve seconds. The fastest women's clocking in the first seven editions of this event was Suzie Fox's 1:11:39, set in 2015, the year Ms. Fox won eleven multis and was named Minnesota Triathlete of the Year and USAT Duathlete of the Year Honorable Mention....

Our point is this: Suzie's record was not a soft one. Ruth and Dani turned in performances that were purely and simply World Class.

The men's winner was Kevin O'Connor, 44, who has won his last five races. His primary concern on Saturday was keeping RBM in his rearview mirror. He was able to do that, crossing the line in a masters record 1:04:32. Ruth's amazing 1:05:37 landed her in 2nd place overall.

Ruth, Dani and Kevin were not the only ones who came away with records. Four other athletes did likewise. Here are the seven reset marks:

- RUTH BRENNAN MORREY - 1:05:37 - New women's pro record (no prior record).

- DANI VSETECKA - 1:09:48 - New women's amateur record. Old Mark - Suzie Fox's 1:11:39 (2015).

- KEVIN O'CONNOR - 1:04:42 - New men's masters record. Old Mark - Troy Vargas' 1:05:05 (2009).

- ANNE GRABOWSKI - 1:19:02  (photo L) - New 45-49W record. Old Mark - Leann Franz' 1:25:23 (2009).

- SHERI SCHROCK - 1:28:55 - New 60-64W record. Old Mark - Sheri Schrock's 1:32:13 (2015).

- BOB DAHL - 1:24:53 - New 65-69M record. Old Mark - Bob Bailey's 1:25:12 (2010).

- STEPHEN PENKHUS - 1:24:40 - New 70-74M record. Old Mark - George Widseth's 2:01:42 (2015). Stephen's result was argably the AG Performance of the Day.

Rounding out the women's podium at Falls was Jenn Scudiero, whose satsfying 1:11:57 was a PR on this course. Jenn plans to get her pro license in mid-June after she returns from the World Duathlon Championships in Aviles, Spain.

It is also worth noting that Luke Harned, who at 63 has all of his hair and it's totally brown (he looks 45!), won his AG for the fourth consecutive year.

Race day was cloudy, cool (50ish), but not cold, and windy, though not as hurricanic as in prior years. As always, the ride to the turnaround was sluggish, and the ride back to T2 was brisk. More than three hundred athletes were registered. Two-hundred and thirty two went the distance. Once again, Final Stretch (Mark is a HOOT!) did a masterful job of producing the event.  RESULTS