Race Coverage

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Monday, 10 August 2020 23:10

GREEN LAKE TRIATHLON COVERAGE - The 17th and 14th editions of this terrific sprint and Olympic-ish event took place in the lull between two rainstorms, the first drenching the set-up crew, the second drenching them again, and the dry t-shirts they donned after the first downpour, as they broke down the venue. Hopkin's Tri race director / organizer of COVID Zooms dedicated to making a 2020 racing season, in some form, happen, DOOBIE KURUS had this to say after the event: ...

I participated in the Green Lake Tri on Sunday out in Spicer, and had a fun time! Great job by Dan Hubbard and his staff. Loved the complimentary face mask and sharpie in my packet pickup bag. Aside from a little crowding in the starting chute, and a lot more spectators coming out than expected, it was a well done event, which implemented a lot of the recommended social distancing and safety protocols. Thanks to all of the race directors that were in on our last conference call in July, and were able to give Dan some ideas and feedback.
 
I'm signed up for Younglife on Saturday up in Detroit Lakes and Granite Man Clearwater on Sunday, and looking foward to trying them out.

Before we talk about what happened at the race last Sunday, we encourage everyone to do either, or both, of these great events - Younglife and Graniteman--that are happening next weekend. They will be the only available races, other than pop-ups, that you can do between now and September 12 and  13 when the Square Lake Triathlons are scheduled.

Now, what happend in Green Lake's Olympic-esque (abbreviated swim and bike) competition? As expected, sophomore pro TED TREISE (photo L), who was celebrating his one week wedding anniversary, turned in the fastest splits in each discipline, emerging with his 4th career victory. 

Only 2:23 back, though, was world class Masters multisporter KEVIN O'CONNOR, who at 49, looks much like he did when we first met  him at Springfield Iron Horse back in 1990. 

Third place went to three-time Green Lake winner MARK LAVIN, 42, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who has been absent from the race---his last win here was in 2009--for at  least a decade. Good to have you back, Mark.

The women's race was closer than expected. Pre-race fave DIANE HANKEE, 43, was expected to collect her 37th career multi win handily. She did win, but Sioux Center, Iowa's SARAH WENSINK, 23, outran all the female competiton and closed the gap on Hankee to just less than two minutes.

Like Lavin, Diane has been a lapsed Green Laker. Her last appearance here, a win, was back in 2010.

Coming off a terrific 2nd place effort at Graniteman Big Lake, Fargo's ANDREW MANNING  threw down a performance that would may have reset the course record even if the swim course had been a full quarter mile. Had that been the case, Manning's time, with an extra two-minutes in the lake, would have rivaled JOHN SHELP's 58:35, set back in 2012.

Also impressive was former Minnesota Junior of the Year MITCHELL CLAYTON, now 23, who placed 2nd in 59:48.

Another decorated South Dakotan, KEVIN MITCHELL, now 50, rounded out the men's podium.

Fourteen-year-old star of the future NOAH BILLINGS of Rochester placed an impressive 5th in 1:01:47.

The women's Sprint may more rightly be called the teen Sprint as five of the six finishers were under the age of 20. One was only 14 and she crushed it, as did the rest of the top finishers. It was a fast race with South Dakotan GRACYN GRUBER, 14, of Brandon, SD rocking an amazing 1:05:50. Had the swim been advertised length she would have decimated GRETA DANIELSON's long-standing junior CR (1:10:18 in 2011). She reminds us of another national class SD 14-year-old from years back: KATIE PATRICK. 

Remember Garcyn's name, okay? We sure will!

Finishing 2nd was 2019 Sprint winner KARAH OSTERBERG,32, from North Aurora, Illinois, with 2019 Minnesota JOY nominee SIMONE LUNDQUIST turning in perhaps her best tri performance ever--1:08:12--to take the bronze medal. MACY IYER, 16, MORGAN BELL, 17 and NATALIE MOOSE, 17 (Brandon, SD) took the 4th through 7th spots.

Approximately 200 people participated in this year's GL races. As Doobie said: "Great job by Dan Hubbard and is staff."  RESULTS