Race Previews
Another Slice of Apple Pie...UPDATED...
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Monday, 17 May 2021 00:10
Photo - Amy Woolsey and Pam Stevens.
SARTELL APPLE DUATHLON PREVIEW II - Our first Apple preview featured predictions for the men's race, both overall and in some of the AGs. Today, we're doing the same with the women. Once again, this is based on a listing we received a few weeks back, thus it is reasonable to assume that additional credentialed athletes have or will enroll. We will update our posts when we receive new information.
DIANE HANKEE, 43, and ELAINE NELSON, 42 - The battle for the top spot could come down to the confrontation between decorated masters, Diane Hankee and Elaine Nelson, both of whom have won this race in the past. Hankee has more experience on this course than does Nelson. In addition to her win in 2016, she had podiumed on three other ocasions. Elaine has only raced here in 2015, and she won....
Nelson didn't race in 2020, whereas Diane raced three times, winning each event. She finished 2nd in the Triathlete of the Year polling, and won the Master of the Year hands-down.
Hankee has 39 career wins; Nelson has 20, albeit in much fewer starts. We believe that Diane has the edge on Saturday, not because of competitive data, though it makes a solid case. We think she'll place 1st because her kids are young adults, capable of taking care of themselves, whereas Elaine's are pre-adolescent and require more hands-on parenting.
JULIA WEISBECKER, 55 - Can Julia lower Pam Stevens' 2014 55-59 CR 1:51:30 on Saturday? If she's fit, her resume suggests that she can. Helping her do that is Amy Woolsey, who like Julia, is new to the AG. In 2019 and 2018, Woolsey threw down 1:50:42 and 1:50:29. Staying in front of her this weekend should require a divisional course record, and it's very possible that both Weisbecker and Woolsey will dip under the old mark. This match-up will be fun to watch.
JUDY MURRAY, 60 - Judy just aged-up and we expect her to collect another (6th!) AG win at Apple. Pam Stevens' record 1:56:56 is going to be tough to match.
PAM STEVENS, 68 - Well, Pam won the Apple's women's overall title twice in the 90s, and now owns three divisional records. Her 65-69 mark (2:02:53), set in 2018 looks a little soft. We think she's capable to shaving a minute or more off that standard.
UPDATES: 2020 Junior ofthe Year MACY IYER has registered. A great duathlete, she will be making her Apple (adult) debut, though she has excelled on more than one occasion at the Apple Kids event. She is our clear pick to win the junior female category.
TRACY SERREYN, 57, who has won her AG at Apple at least twice, will go head-to-head-to-head with WEISBECKER and WOOLSEY in the 55-59W division.
JAN GUENTHER. 61, who hasn't raced at Apple sine 2009, will be gunning for her 3rd Apple AG record on Saturday. We won't bet against her. She was outright women's winner here in 2002, and won her AG in 2000, when Apple hosted Duathlon Nationals.
Photo R - Pam Stevens, two Judys and another fast lady.
