Race Coverage

Jenny Rocks MIT...

Tuesday, 22 March 2011 05:30

ED. - Yesterday we received this email from 2010 Minnesota Rookie of the Year Jenny Shaughnessy:

Hey MTN!

Hope all is well at home! Heard about Cathy's accident...what a bummer.

I know you like updates, so here goes:

Just got home from Miami International Tri, 24 hours of driving plus a race within 2.5 days! I did not do the clermont draft legal race 2 weeks ago due to a strained hip muscle, but now am back in action. The race was super fun, and I even saw Jonathan Pedersen during the run (recognized the TCMC trisuit)! I couldn't find him after the race, but still cool to see a fellow Minnesotan so far from home! The swim ...

was wetsuit legal (bummer), but I was able to get into a good position behind a few of the elite males. I am much better at following than sighting, so this was good news. After fumbling through T1, the bike was my favorite part...the majority of the course was straight over a causeway, water on both sides! Then of course I got lost in T2, finally found my way out onto the run course, and was able to find some sort of rhythm. It was fun to hear some of the fans cheering "go Gear West" (my trisuit), it ALMOST felt like I was at home. Almost. All in all, a fun and sunny day. Learned a lot from the experience and from watching the pro's (we were able to see them plenty throughout the course of the race) Looking forward to upcoming races, and, of course, coming home for Manitou in June!

I have no idea where the 2 minute penalty came from, I'm guessing it was for drafting, the 2nd loop of the bike course was crazy crowded with bikers! Oops. RESULTS

MTN COMMENTS - Jenny's Elite amateur victory at MIT on Sunday was the most significant performance of her young career. She was beaten by only eight of the 20-or-so pro women and despite her two minute penalty she still managed to beat the 2nd placing elite amateur female by 5:21! Among the top women she out-raced were 2010 US Athlete of the Year (2009 AOY Runner-up) Mandy McLane and 2010 AOY Runner-up Kristin Andrews, who are now pros. Jenny beat Mandy by 1:51 and Kristin by 4:55.

JS' Splits - S - 17:33 (beaten only by Sarah McLarty!) - B - 1:04:02 (23.2 mph) - Great improvement from '10! - R - 37:56 (6:08 pace!) - 2:02:53 + 2 min. pen. = 2:04:53

If she stays healthy we would be surprised if Jenny Shaughnessy is not a strong contender for US AOY at season's end.

This girl rocks!