Race Coverage

Word of the Day: TETRAHEDRON...

Friday, 07 June 2024 00:10

By Doobie Kurus

The 5th annual SWIM-Off to Summer was our largest field ever with well over 200 registered and coming from all over the midwest. It was also our most competitive one to date. Just getting into the event was competitive, as it sold out back in April this year. Race day conditions were ideal, as the Friday rain storms gave way to overcast skies, similar air/water temps, and calm water. Those that stuck around afterwards enjoyed burgers and ice cream sundaes, plus lots of fun treats people brought to share. The only issue of the morning was me confusing people as I described the race course and using interjecting "tetrahedron" every other sentence as a reference to the shape of the buoys. I'll get that cleared up by next year!

In the .3 mile (sprint) distance race, Greg Breheim (6:43), Tyler Gerst (8:10), and Kyle Sweeney (9:40) came in 1, 2, and 3 respectively for the men. Linda Green (7:20), Bryce White (8:08), and Allison Brunner (10:14) came in that way for the women....

In the .9 mile (Olympic) distance, the top 5 men were: Randy Ness (24:12), William Cutting (24:32), Drew Pesall (24:49), Conor Green (26:37), Michael Morrison (26:41) The top 5 women were: Sawyer Worum (24:30), Beth Nymeyer (25:21), Julie Grafft (28:51), Katie Julka (28:56), Sydney Chandler (29:26)

In the 1.2 mile distance race, there were a lot of close finishes, as Timothy Bontrager (27:43) edged out Zach McCarty by 8 seconds, with 2021 overall winner Seth Baetzold finishing a "distant" 1 full minute behind Timothy for 3rd place. First place for the women (and 4th place overall) was back to back to back overall female winner, Christina Roberts, who somehow had the same exact time as she did in 2023, with a 28:48! WOW! I can't even swim a 50 yard in the pool at the same pace in a workout, let alone 1.2 miles...and a year later no less. Then it was pretty much a photo finish for overall places 5-9, as just 5 seconds separated them. 

5th-Margaret Werba (28:53)
6th-Charles Socha (28:54)
7th-Carrie Stolar (28:56) we gave 7th place to Carrie, as she later said her watch started coming undone while swimming, and had to have at least taken a second or two to resecure it.
8th-Samantha Kraft (28:56)
9th-Tyler Schultze (28:58)

Team TRIATHLETE took home both the overall male and female titles this year in the 1.2 mile challenge, which means that for the first time in the SWIM-Off to Summer, the triathletes get to clearly say, "They rule the open water!"

Thank you to Matt Evans (Brewhouse/Buzz Ryan Tri), Bill Corcoran (GraniteMan Series), Mandi and Bill Hansel (Trinona), and Krisie Melsen (Performance Ready) for coming out to promote your events. We did a drawing for free race entries and gift cards. Thank you Chisago Tri, Moose Lake, Zorbaz Open Water Challenge, Trinona, GraniteMan, BuzzRyan Tri, MN Masters, Performance Ready, Gear West, Elsmore Swim Shop, TimberMan, and Genesis Aquatics for donating entries.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible this summer at various events. Remember the "TRI 3 Initiative" goal of doing at least 3 triathlons, duathlons, or open water swim events this summer.

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