Race Previews

Hopkins Prognostications...

Monday, 30 August 2021 00:10

HOPKINS ROYAL TRIATHLON PREVIEW - Typically, when we preview a race our primary goal is to stimulate additional registrations. But there are a select events that fill early, thus don't need a boost from us. Northwoods, Lake Minnetonka and Hopkins Royal are three such races. We've previewed the first two already. Today we are previewing the 7th edition of Hopkins Royal, a two-time Race of the Year recipient, and perennial nominee for that honor.

MTN likes to make predictions, so here are some about Saturday's HRT.

The following six athletes (out of the 470+ enrollees!) are our picks to claim podium spots. Let's start with the women. In alpha  order, we believe that these talented ladies with make the Top 3:

CATHERINE LEE, 47, Minneapolis (photo) - She loves this race and has podiumed here on five occasions, including a course-record win in the Super Sprint. She is racing well this year, as her 2nd at Buffalo Sprint and 4th at Door County Sprint attests. Unfortunately, she was derailed by a bee sting in her mouth (OUCH!) at 4WOMEN, which allowed her co-leader at the time, Bette Rowley, to charge on to a convincing win. She'll try to correct that next Saturday....

ANDREA MYERS, 46, Plymouth - Andi has a win and two 2nd here, and her PR on this course (1:11:27) is a few seconds faster than Lee's (1:11:44). Andrea beat Catherine here in 2017; Catherine beat Andrea in 2018. We're anxious to watch this rematch unfold.

BETTE ROWLEY, 36, Burnsville - Bette finished 3rd here in 2019, and should podium once again. She's won two of the three tris she's done thus far in 2021.

The Men:

MITCHELL CLAYTON, 25, Rochester - The former Minnesota Junior of the Year placed 3rd here in his last appearance (2017).

BRETT LOVAAS, 46, Minnetonka - A two-time winner here, his PR-1:04:57 is faster than any of his challengers. Lovaas has at least 34 triathlon wins on his career scorecard, the most recent of which was at Big Lake Sprint. 

SCOTT MYERS, 46, Plymouth - In 2017, Scott placed 2nd here, just 10-seconds behind Lovaas. Something similar could happen on Saturday.

Let's add some Age Group winner picks:

45-49 - BRETT LOVAAS or SCOTT MYERS & ANDREA MYERS or CATHERINE LEE

55-59 - ROB KAUFMAN (photo L) & MARY DEEG

60-64 - JEFF GILMER & LAURIE PAYTON

6569 - LUKE HARNED & BETHNY COLLINS

70-74 - TOM COUILLARD

80+ - JUDY RYKKEN

Though the race is full, Doobie and his team welcome spectators, and additional volunteers, so plan to join us at Shady Oak Beach on Saturday, September 4.