Race Coverage

Apple Observations...

Monday, 30 May 2016 00:10

APPLE DUATHLON NOTES - Diane Hankee posted the 27th victory of her multisport career last Saturday at the Apple Duathlon. It was probably her biggest win ever. The field she beat was as deep, or deeper, than the one that raced here in 2015, which was clearly the most talented women's assemblage in the twelve year history of this course. The win required a PR effort for the ...

2014 US DOY HM....

Diane was not the only athlete who turned in a highlight reel effort last Saturday. Wade Cruser proved that he's legit by placing 3rd overall behind two-time US DOY / National Champion Matthew Payne, and pro Patrick Parish, who has won five national championships (three were dus) and was the 2012 (Amateur) and 2015 (Elite) US Duathlete of the Year.

Cruser, 29 from Sauk Rapids, is the current frontrunner for the 2016 Most Improved Award.

Impressively, Apple rookie Dani Vsetecka placed 2nd in the women's race. Thus, in seven multisport starts, Dani, who is a total sweetheart, has never finished any lower than 2nd. (Four wins, three seconds). Whoa!

The most talent-rich AG category, in our humble opinion, was the women's 50-54. Check our this podium, which resembles a Top 3 at a national championship:

1st - Cheryl Zitur, 52 -1:41:50. Cheryl is a two-time Minnesota Master of the Year and a 2015 US MOY HM. In the last two seasons, she has medaled at both Nationals and Worlds.

2nd - Jeanne Fleck, 51 - 1:46:53. Jeanne was Minnesota's Rookie of the Year in 2007, and MOY and Most Improved winner in 2008. She had won five multis outright before retiring after the 2009 season due to chronic injuries. It's great to have her back on the tri/du scene.

3rd - Tracy Serreyn, 52 - Tracy was coming off an overall Top 5 performance at Esprit de She the previous weekend. She was nominated for Minnesota MOY in 2014 and we believe there will be many more nominations in ther future.

Race day conditions--cloudy and mild, light winds--were good and, as always, the Apple committee and awesome volunteers, led by out-going directors Adam Koncewski, who is a HOOT!, and Lisa Bollinger, put on a splendid event.

Next year's director is Julia Krengel (photo R), who is a totally lovely person. She raced on Saturday and managed to beat her goal. She wanted to break 2:15, and did a 2:12:03. With her incoming director's handicap (10 minutes), her time should be adjusted to 2:02:03.

Two-hundred and thirty-fivish of the 270ish enrollees participated on race day. RESULTS

Top photo - Awesomeness personified (L-R): Lisa Lendway, Diane Hankee, Suzie Fox, Christina Roberts, Kortney Haag, Jenn Scudiero, Sara Carlson and Dani Vsetecka.

Page 2 photo - Incoming Apple Director Julia Krengel.