Race Coverage
Back-to-Back Wins for the Gophers...
-
Tuesday, 12 June 2018 23:30
By Andy Hardt, Byron Smith, Sophie Rabino & Melanie Maloney
The University of Minnesota Gophers were back in action these past two weekends as they opened their summer season at the Pigman Triathlon in Cedar Rapids, IA followed by Trinona in Winona, MN.
The Gophers brought 11 total athletes and took the collegiate titles on both the men’s and women’s sides at the Pigman race.
On the women’s side, the Gophers were led by Sophie Rabino in 2nd (collegiate; 7th overall), who was the first or second fastest collegiate on all five splits (including transitions). Newly elected Team President Toni Marano was next in 3rd. Michelle Ring and Payton Keddell also had strong races and helped the team come away with the win. ...
More Racing News....
-
Monday, 11 June 2018 23:10
TRINONA - A quick glance at the Trinona X results tells us that GABY BUNTEN had threepeated, and by her bigliest margin yet. We had correctly predicted that ISU triathlete Jeff Mettler would join Gaby in the Olypic Winners' Circle.
We were most impressed with the number of teen athletes that rocked out in Winona last Sunday. Minneapolis (by way of Waconia, we think?) triathlete MATTHEW TRACY, 18, who flew under the radar in 2017 because he did his most impressive racing on Wisconsin soil, placed 2nd overall in the men's Olympic contest.
It was in the Sprint, were most of the juniors rocked out, though. Following winner CHRISTOPHER BUDAHN, 35, of Kenyon, was silver medalist / 2017 JOY nominee CARTER DEICHMAN, 17, of Mankato. Also in the men's Top 5 were Carter's brother CARSON, 15 (4th) and Cambridge's JACK HENNEN, 17 (5th). Budahn was also victorious the previous weekend at Eau Claire.
2017 Junior of the Year TAYLOR LUNDQUIST, now 18, and her sister SIMONE, 15, though fatigued from having competed in the State Track Meet the previous day, placed 2nd and and 9th respectively. Taylor finished only 20 seconds behind winner MIKKA NORBY. RESULTS ...
It Rained. A Lot....(With Important Updates!)
-
Saturday, 09 June 2018 23:20
LIBERTY TRIATHLON - It rained. A lot. And lightning became the kind of threat that forced race and USAT officials to shorten the bike route, albeit not before the leaders in both the Olympic and half IMers had passed the point where participants were rerouted.
When the athletes de-biked, all were instructed to run the 10K course, which lopped an additional seven miles from the 70.3 route.
At least three participants eschewed the alterations, intent on doing the entire long course. One of them was elite entrant JOSH MORK, who'se eventual 4:21:06 was unofficial, though a signiificant improvement on his prior best at the distance.
Poor Josh. The week before he was enjoying a large lead when he zigged off course. He righted his ship, but the eventual result was a 3rd place finish, not a victory.
How would Josh have fared if fellow elites SEAN COOLEY, DAN ARLANDSON and WADE CRUSER (scary photo L - courtesy of Drew Frakes) decided to run the entire half marathon? We can only speculate, but that is something we love to do. Please don't take our conclusions too seriously....
Everyone Should Do This...
-
Saturday, 09 June 2018 23:10
Not a race report, a “spectator report”
By Nikki Dostert Sudberry
NEW BRI TRI SPECTATOR REPORT - New Bri Tri brought many Minnesotans out of hibernation last Sunday. The sprint distance triathlon attracted new and seasoned athletes to Long Lake beach where the wind was the talk of the morning.
I used to race every chance I could and now that I have nailed down my race schedule for the 2018 season I am making it my mission to spectate and support athletes when I’m not racing. And you know what? Everyone should try to do it. I love to be able to empathize and relate to the athletes about the course, about the weather, about nervousness.
Bringing my camera to the races (I’m not a photographer by trade… but a radiographer. So I take pictures INSIDE of the body. I know, CREEPY AF but we are talking triathlons here) Anyway, bringing my camera to the races allows me to capture what we have all felt before, during and after our race. Nervous laughs, double- triple checking transition areas, serious faces, worried faces, pee faces. ok, lets be honest, “pee face” doesn’t happen in triathlon; everyone pees in their wet suits! (you can tell if your spectating a triathlon, duathlon or running event by the line to the port-john… triathlon lines are shorter for a reason…jussayin) ...
"...We Are Building Character Here..."
-
Thursday, 07 June 2018 23:20
By Marc Sontowski
New Bri Tri race report- Vulgar language may appear, if you are offended I guess I don’t care. Also enjoy all the grammar flaws :)
I was originally signed up for Buffalo, and well, no need to speak on that’s so here we are. I am overly excited for this race, because if you know me, you know I love to race. I don’t have a spare weekend in sight that I’m not doing some type of race.
I show up at the ass crack of dawn because that the type of person I am, not because I need to make sure I get all the pre ride, run, and swim in before transition closes, but because I just like being early to things. My pops always told me that being late to something is one of the most disrespectful things you can do in any circumstance. I guess I took that a little too serious as I was there about 5:55 and apparently the park wasn’t supposed to open until 6:30.
As those who raced know, it was a little bit on the windy side, but wind builds character. I find out the swim is a time trial start, I still don’t know if I’m for or against it, I guess I really don’t give a shit either way. The swim was fantastic, the water temp was ideal, some waves and wind, but again we are building character here....
Racing Stuff From Last Weekend...
-
Sunday, 03 June 2018 23:20
ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ - In 2014, CHRISTINA ROBERTS did Escape From Alcatraz, finishing an impressive 6th in the women's amateur race. It was a performance that helped launch her elite amateur career. Last Sunday, she returned to the Bay Area where she rocked an overall amateur podium finish. Adding more coolness to the deal is the fact that she was the first American amateur woman to finish, placing 3rd behind Sweden's decorated Jenny Nilson, who placed 2nd overall at Long Distance Worlds in 2015, and Italy's Michela Santini, who like Nilsson, is a pro duathlete / amateur triathlete. In 2014, Roberts turned in a time of 2:39:41. Last Sunday her time was 2:36:34, which landed her in 9th place overall, including pros.
Also excelling at Alcatraz was Roberts' sweetie pie, JORDAN ROBY, who cranked out a 7th place amateur finish (21st overall), as well as KRIS SPOTH (9th amateur), and PAM STEVENS, 65, who won her AG by 26:20! RESULTS
PIGMAN SPRINT - PATRICK PARISH placed 2nd on Sunday at Pigman Sprint. Also cracking the men's Top 10 was The U's BRADLEY WOODFORD. He placed 7th....
