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Marcus & Katie...
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Wednesday, 13 September 2023 00:10
Photo - Marcus Duval and his wife and another woman.
Square Lake Sprint Coverage - We have yet to gloat about predictions that come true, specifically about athletes predicted to win their first race.
Today, though, we will abort that policy. In our Square Lake Sprint preview, we predicted that KATIE KADERA would win the first race of her multi career. She had been a triathlete for several years, but seemed to, at age 35, be finally breaking through. Well, Katie did in fact win Sunday's race. More impressive were her solid splits across the board. And more impressive than that was that she came out on top by outswimming and out-transitioning her eventual runner-up ERIN WEILER, who was coming off a win at the YWCA Women's Triathlon.
Weiler had to outrun Rapid City, South Dakota's MANDI MEREDITH to earn the silver. The eventual margin between Erin and Mandi was only 18-seconds. Mandi came into the race with at least one 2023 win to her credit (Southern Hills Tri)....
Long Distance Weekend...
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Monday, 11 September 2023 00:10
Photo - Jason Larson at Ironman 70.3 Wisconsin.
IRONMAN 70.3 WISCONSIN - Minnesotans and those with strong MInnesota ties turned in impressive performances last Saturday at Madison 70.3. Leading the way in dominating fashion for the women was former Minnesota Rookie of the Year and Most Improved winner NICOLE HEININGER, who relocated from White Bear Lake to Madison, Wisconsin four years ago. Her time was very brisk--4:32:23--and the victory marked her third half IM win of 2023. On two of those occasions her runner-up was Twin Citizen CARY HERRICK (4:42:59 at Madison), who has podiumed in her last four halves, including a win at Chisago last July.
In addition to her wins at Madison, Milkman and Door County, Heininger also won Sprint Nationals last month. Add these Ws to her regional victories this year makes her, at least in our book, a strong candidate for US Athlete of the Year.
Finishing fifth overall woman her 70.3 debut last Saturday was rising star ELENA HENGEL (4:53:44), whose father CHUCK won the gold medal in the men's 60-64 AG....
2023 Performance Standard-Setters...
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Sunday, 10 September 2023 00:10
Last year Matt and Damon, two members of the Minnesota Multisport Honors Selection Committee, discussed their respective unofficial MMH picks. Their goal was to applaud those who set the performance standards in 2022. Matt and Damon are stepping aside this year; it's Mav's and Goose's turn to break down some data....
Square Lake Turns 23!
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Friday, 08 September 2023 00:10
23rd Square Lake Triathlon Preview - More than three hundred triathletes are expected to race at this weekend's Square Lake Triathlons, a little over one hundred in Saturday's 70.3, and two-hundred-plus in Sunday's Sprint. In both races we expect to see some recognizable names at the front of the men's races, with SEAN COOLEY the obvious choice in 70.3, and usual suspects like RYAN COLLISON and STEVE STENZEL in the Sprint, though SEAN PICKLE is our pick to win, unless MICHAEL WEISSENBORN decides to defend his 2022 title. MW was not registered when Judi shared her entrants list with us.
Back to Cooley. He hasn't raced in a tri since June. What does that mean? We don't know, but we'd like to think he is ready to challenge JOSH MORK's 2019 course record 4:11:39. Sean's PR is 4:02, which he set at Superior Man back in 2014, and has broken 4:10 four times since then. Still, Square Lake is...
Participants Giving Back...
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Wednesday, 06 September 2023 00:10
By Doobie Kurus
If the biggest issue the Hopkins Royal Tri had on race day this year was the lake water level being low forcing an impromptu rest stop on the swim course as sprint athletes walked through the channel before continuing on with their .4 mile swim, then I’ll take it! Everything else was frosting on the cake. Speaking of cake, 85 years young Judy “T-Rex” Rykken was presented with a cake, figurine, and flowers for a recognition of the roughly 200 multisport events she has done over the years. Judy was slated to compete in the tri, but was a late scratch, and decided to come volunteer instead.
People may have also noticed a lot of younger participants this year. People, like Josh Sell, have been making a concerted effort to recruit and prepare the next generation of triathletes. He brought out numerous members of his youth triathlon team..
