Race Coverage
"A Must-Do From Now On"
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Monday, 12 August 2019 23:10
YWCA WOMEN'S TRIATHLON - We visited Facebook to collect some comments about last Sunday's epic YWCA Women's Triathlon:
CAROL GAUP - Yup, dat's my 81 year old mum (JUDY RYKKEN) heading out on the running portion of the YWCA's Women's Triathlon this morning. (Photo)
And yes, she's pretty amazing.
And in the awards area, inspiring generations of women and girls. The crowd always roars when it's her turn to go up. She's done the event every year they've held it, and won her age group every time.
JENNIFER FITZHARRIS-FUNK - Winner in a personal best time of 1:12:08, JFF had this to say about her experience: If there’s any race I’d want to come together like today did - it’s the YWCA Women’s Triathlon! It brings tears to my eyes thinking of 1550 women (600+ first timers) all coming together to support each other in sport. Congratulations to each and everyone of you who raced today! Managing an overall win today has me in shock and experiencing immense gratitude.
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It’s an annual family tradition to do this race with my sister Jackie and niece Lizzy - I’m so proud of them for being brave, bold and badass out there today! Lizzy who is just 14, took 2nd overall in the super sprint and has a bright future in triathlon if she wants it! Jackie rocked a solid performance with little training under her belt and we were able to nab the sister/sister win in the sprint race.
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Thank you to all the volunteers, YWCA Minneapolis staff and my YWCA friends - you are all amazing and your cheers along the course (to all racers) mean so much! Swimming and running alongside you all each week in Masters Swim practice and Running Intervals makes me a better athlete and a better person.
BETTINA KEPPERS - Runner-up in her first attempt at YWCA, Bettina summed up her experience thus: Fun day with 1,400 women competing. Lots of cheering, lots of encouragement, and just an overall amazing time! This race is a must-do from now on!
By our count, approximately 1550 women finished the race. The breakdown: 1209 individuals. 240 Super Sprint. 35 Teams = 105 participants. (MTN does not consider a team to be "one entrant." Each team member has a finish line they must cross. Therefore, we count every participant.
Here are the Top 10 "full course" finishers and the divisional winners:
1. JENNIFER FITZHARRIS-FUNK, 44 - 1:12:08, 2. BETTINA KEPPERS, 36 - 1:12:45, 3. CHERYL ZITUR, 55 - 1:13:11, 4. PAIGE SCHULZ, 29 - 1:14:29, 5. MEGHAN MASON, 32 - 1:15:32, 6. JODY QUESNELL, 52 - 1:18:14, 7. GRETA SIMPSON, 38 - 1:18:19, 8. LAURA SWARTZ, 53 - 1:19:39, 9. FRANCIE STREICH, 35 - 1:19:46, 10. SARAH BERSETH, 38 - 1:20:04.
00-19 - GRACE MOBERG, 16 - 1:24:20, 20-24 - MICHELLE LENSING - 1:25:19, 25-29 - PAIGE SCHULZ - 1:14:29, 30-34 - MEGHAN MASON - 1:15:32, 35-39 - BETTINA KEPPERS - 1:12:45, 40-44 - JENNIFER FITZHARRIS FUNK - 1:12:08, 45-49 - LEIGH CURRIE - 1:24:45, 50-54 - JODY QUESNELL - 1:18:14, 55-59 - CHERYL ZITUR - 1:13:11, 60-64 - DIANE SHAW (Tacoma, WA) - 1:32:37, 65-69 - TWYLA ANDERSON - 1:39:53, 70-74 - NANCY BAUER - 1:45:16, 75-79 - ANNLIV BACON - 2:29:46, 80-84 - JUDY RYKKEN - 2:24:13.
Here are the Top 5 in the Super Sprint (200 yard - 7.5 mile - 1 mile):
1. THU TONG, 45 - 37:6, 2. LIZZY EIYNCK, 14 - 40:42, 3. PAMELA WAGNER, 42 - 41:32, 4. LISA SMITH, 35 - 42:32, 5. ABBY SMITH, 45 - 43:26.
