Race Coverage

State Record Falls at Superior Man...

Tuesday, 29 August 2017 09:10

PRers - JORDAN ROBY (4:15:13) and CHRISTINA ROBERTS (4:37:04) 

SUPERIOR MAN TRIATHLON VI - Despite the non-spectator-friendly conditions (cool, soggy and grey) on Sunday in Duluth, the sixth annual Superior Man Half, and its 41.5 companion, many athletes showed their appreciation for the racer-friendly climate with outstanding performances.

It wasn't just the meteorolgical stuff that helped produce fast times, the new outdoor transition location, just 25 meters from the swim exit, certainly shaved a minute-or-two for most. 

But mostly it was the field quality that lent itself to the enhanced performances that produced race records and personal bests. 

In a true breakout performance, MATT CYMANSKI, 26, of Des Moine, Iowa, left the 70.3 men in his wake. A tough guy, as he proved with his victory in horrendous conditions at Liberty last June, he showed that he possessed true speed. With favorable conditions Cymanski sped to a personal best 4:01:40, which was a 20-plus minute improvement on his next best effort at this distance. Even more impressive is the fact that his time is a Minnesota state amateur record for a half IM.

Four-time SM winner SEAN COOLEY took 2nd this time around, posting a 4:11:31.

The next record to fall was courtesy of DAN ARLANDSON, 41, who placed third in a Masters Record 4:12:59, lowering Winnipeg's PATRICK PEACOCK's prior standard by more than almost a minute-and-a-half....

Then came a pair of hard-fought efforts by 4th-placing JORDAN ROBY, whose first true half IM produced a 4:15:13, and NATHAN ANSBAUGH, who ran out of gas on the final turn allowing Roby to sprint ahead. Dr. Nate's 4:15:17 was an eigth-minute PR.

With HANNA GRINAKER deciding to sit this one out, that left CHRISTINA ROBERTS alone in front from the get-go. And her lead just kept building throughout the race. She didn't need to keep her foot on the gas, but she did anyway. In the end, she posted the event's third fastest women's time ever, at 4:37:04, which was 3:30 faster than her PR clocking here in 2016. Additionally, her margin of victory on Sunday was 27:23. The win was the 17th of Roberts' tri career, and her second in as many starts in August.

The August Athletes of the Month will be posted later this week. Guess who will be named Female AOM?

Age group standards were re-written in the following categories:

- 40-44M - DAN ARLANDSON - 4:12:59 (Old Mark - 4:14:21)

- 50-54W - JULIA WESIBECKER - 5:13:46 (Old Mark - 5:29:57)

- 55-59W - DIANE CAMPBELL, IL - 6:05:03 (Old Mark - 6:16:48)

SUPERIOR MAN 41.5 IV -  Several records also fell in the SM 41.5 last Sunday, starting with ANDY WIBERG's winning 2:16:52, which despite making a wrong turn early in the run, which he quickly corrected, took the overall men's best down from 2:23 to 2:16. The win was Andy's second of the season and seventh of his career.

Also dipping under the old mark was runner-up EMMANUELE DARNE, 45. His 2:22 trashed the prior Masters Record.

The final men's podium spot was taken by IMOO vet NICK McCULLOCH, who pedaled his way through the rain from his home in Brookly Park to Duluth the day before the race.

Moments before she boarded the Vista Fleet to take her out the the swim start, CHRISTEL KIPPENHAN, 52, told us that "there's no way" she would better the Masters Record she set in a winning performance here in 2016.

Then her pants burst into flames. Yup, she lied. Big Time.

Kip blasted her MR by 2:19 and, once again, took the overall women's title. Twas multisport win #9 for the German/American dual citizen.

Decorated multisporters GLENDA ADAMS (Madison, WI), and KIERANN TOTH, who has a 1st, 2nd and 3rd in her last three races, filled out the women's podium. RESULTS