Race Previews

Silver Anniversary Edition...

Friday, 16 July 2010 05:00

cake Doesn't this cake look like a ginormous cleverly sculpted Little Debbie Zebra Cake? It does to us. Ummmmmmmm. Looks super yummy and totally devoid of nutrition and capable of causing diabetes with just one bite, doesn't it? There's got to gallons of high fructose corn syrup in that sucker!

Excuse us whilst we sop up the saliva off the keyboard.

Well folks, the beloved Heart of the Lakes Triathlon is celebrating its 25th anniversary this weekend. We'd like to recommend that all participants make a special effort--smiles and thank yous are good, hugs are even better--on Sunday to let the race organizers and volunteers know that you appreciate the

that we enjoy. If you're not racing in Annandale on Sunday, we suggest you express your gratitude and congratulations in an e-mail to matt the event organizers (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). You'll be glad you did.

And on Monday we can begin to look ahead to 25 more great years of comradery and competition, of arriving early and staying late, at Heart of the Lakes, a.k.a. The Minnesota State Triathlon Championship.

Okay then, who are Sunday's podium contenders in the long course race?

Let's start with the boys, in alpha order. These are the returning guys who have raced fast on this course in the past:

* Brian Bich - He's won 40 races since the turn of the century, six of which were on this course. PR -1:29:35 (2006)

* Dan Cohen - He was 2nd here in 2007 and is coming off a big win at Timberman last weekend. PR - 1:29:47 (2009)

* Brett Lovaas - Winner of more than 20 tris in his career, Brett is a two-time podium finisher here (2008, 2006). PR - 1:30:45 (2006)

* Kevin O'Connor - A four-time podium finisher here (2009, 1998, 1997, 1996), he recorded his fastest time last year: PR - 1:28:17 (2009)

* Patrick Parish - He's been the amateur champ in six of the seven races he's entered thus far in 2010. He place 2nd in his only non-victorious effort last weekend at Life Time Fitness. He has yet to reach the podium here, though. That'll change on Sunday. PR - 1:30:37 (2009)

* Matt Payne - (photo) His PR here--1:29:48--tells us that he's ready for a podium spot, perhaps even a win. PR - 1:29:48 (2009)

Male Darhorses: Brooks Grossinger, Rhett Bonner.

holt Now for the girls, also in alphabetical order:

* Suzie Finger - The 2009 Minnesota Rookie of the Year will be making her HOLT debut on Sunday. She is slated to defend her Chaska title the day before, though. Can she pull off the double AND reach the podium? Hmmm.

* Jan Guenther - The eight-time HOLT winner may be 51 but she's very capable of picking up #9 on Sunday. Her age didn't keep her from winning at Timberman last weekend. PR - 1:40:10 (1999)

* Diane Hankee - She's won four races in the last season and a half. Her win at Graniteman last weekend was particularly impressive. Her PR here is not stunning but her current fitness tells us she's capable of going 4-5 minutes faster. PR - 1:49:27 (2009)

* Brook Mutzenberger - Her HOLT debut in 2009 produced a 5th place finish in 1:45:31. She'll be hungry after a sub-Mutz effort at Life Time Fitness Elite last weekend. Heck, she might even win! PR - 1:45:31 (2009)

* Shelley Nelson - She was 7th here in 2009 and appears to be faster this year. PR - 1:47:09 (2009)

The women's race has surfeit of darkhorses, including Ann Sudoh, Brooke Larsen, April Morgan, Nordica Stocker, Cindy Blackstock, Jill Ellenbecker, Sara Hermanson, Jill Hughes, Tracie Kent, Lauren Rantala and Christel Kippenhan. And hopefully Marta Lewinski is on the comeback trail and can make a run at a Top 3-5 on Sunday. She has finished as high as 3rd here in the past (2008).

Oh yeah, we think that Tim Andrew and Jody Quesnell, both three-time HOLT Short Course champs, will once again take top honors in the sprint.

It'll be a another great day in Annandale.