Race Coverage

Records Tumble at Buzz VI...

Saturday, 21 July 2018 23:25

BUZZ RYAN SPRINT - Alliteratively stated, the 6th running of the Buzz Ryan Sprint Triathlon produced a plethora of primo performances, starting with BRANDEN SCHEELS' thunderous race record 47:13, which improved the men's mark by more than three minutes. Let's keep in mind that Buzz is a short race (500yd - 10 - 2.5).

But we shouldn't be too surprised. A glance at the young athlete's 2018 scorecard tells us that an out-of-stater (Branden is from Fargo, ND) will undoubtedly claim a spot on this year's Team MInnesota, and perhaps an award nomination or two (Most Improved?). Doing so would put him in elite company alongside fellow Prairie Rose staters Sean Cooley, Rob Gilles, Marnie Walth, Melanie Carvell and Nick Nygaard.

Check out Branden's resume thus far:

- 1st @ Chain of Lakes - CR (Significantly lowering Marcus Stromberg's mark!)

- 1st @ Perham Triathlon - Course Record ...

- 1st @ Try Go Far (Fargo, ND)

- 1st @ Buzz Ryan Sprint - 47:13 (First man to break 50-minutes)

- 2nd amateur @ Chattanooga 70.3 - 4:12:51

Scheels' closest challenger at Buzz was 47-year-old Montana transplant TODD STRUCKMAN. A physician in Duluth, Struckman demonstrated some of the compettive panache that made him one of the West's premier multisportsman back in 90s and early part of this millennium. He threw down an impressive 50:34, a masters record. He needed a fast race to stay ahead of fellow 45-49er NATHAN WAECH, of Grand Rapids, who arguably turned in the best tri performance of his career on Sunday.

Another record effort was turned in by 19-year-old NATHAN BICH, who not only significantly lowered the junior AGR, but he managed to hold off 2017 JOY nominee CARTER DEICHMAN, who could well earn another nomination this year. Nate, who is listed in the results as USAT age 20 (MTN recognizes his actual age, not his year-end age), popped a 51:50, nineteen ticks in front of Deichman.

Guess who won the women's race?

That's right, Duluth's numero uno female triathlete ELAINE NELSON picked up her 5th straight Buzz win, which proved to be the 17th of her tri/du career. Her time was 53:03, which owered he own race record by thirteen seconds.

Unsurprisingly, BETTINA KEPPERS nabbed 2nd place, her time--55:22--a personal best here. Bettina, now a three-time runner-up at Buzz Sprint, was able to exact a bit of vengeance on Sunday, as she was able to outrace the young woman, TAYLOR LUNDQUIST, 18, who overtook her two weeks earlier at Timberman Sprint. Taylor set a course record there, and set anther one, a junior CR, at Buzz, with her 57:49.

The times on Sunday suggested favorable weather, which was supported by the online weather accounts. The event featured a Super Sprint (Half Buzzed), which was won by mild-mannered ALAN DETTMER, who co-directs the Timberman with his wife AMY, last year's Half Buzzed women's winner and this year's runnerup behind SARAH LAW of Grand Marais.

Between the two events, a total of 113 athletes crossed the finish line.  RESULTS