Race Coverage

Three-Time Race of the Year...

Wednesday, 23 August 2017 09:10

SUPERIOR MAN HALF IM - A three-time "Triathletes Choice Race of the Year" winner, Superior Man will celebrate its sixth birthday next Sunday. Let's share some SM Half IM history, then make a few predictions.

- Nine men have bettered 4:20, five of whom have gone faster than 4:15:

1. SEAN COOLEY - 4:04:21 (2016)(photo)

2. MATT PAYNE - 4:10:44 (2015)

3. MATT PAYNE - 4:10:47 (2016)

4. PATRICK PEACOCK, CAN - 4:14:21 - Masters Record (2016)

5. BEN LINDELL, WI - 4:14:47 (2016)

- Twelve women have broken 5-hours at SM, five of them have bettered 4:45:

1. NICOLE WALKER, CAN - 4:25:05 (2016)

2. KORTNEY HAAG - 4:36:34 (2016)

3. CHRISTINA ROBERTS - 4:40:34 (2016)

4. HANNAH GRINAKER - 4:41:32 (2016)

5. KORTNEY HAAG - 4:43:08 (2015) ...

AG Records:

00-19 - JUSTIN MULDER, WI - 5:26:55 (2016)

40-44 - PATRICK PEACOCK, MAN - 4:14:21 (2016) & ANDREA MYERS - 4:54:14 (2016)

45-49 - ROD RAYMOND - 4:40:13 (2012) & CHRISTINE THOMPSON, WI - 4:58:46 (2016)

50-54 - DAVID LYON, WI - 4:49:01 (2016) & AMY QUINN, MI - 6:08:59 (2013)

55-59 - BOB SHINE, ONT - 5:12:02 (2015) & CAROLYN MILBRATH, WI - 6:16:48 (2015)

60-64 - JIM MINER - 5:41:28 (2016) & SHERI SCHROCK - 6:00:36 (2015)

65-65 - LYNN VOGT, IA - 5:48:51 (2015)

Predictions:

- Team Everyman Jack will take the Top 2 men's spots: SEAN COOLEY will collect his 5th win here. He's focused and in great long distance shape. He could eclipse his CR (4:04), but can he become the first Minnesota amateur to break 4-hours? If the weather and the bay cooperates, sure. We think that NATHAN ANSBAUGH will finish 2nd in a PR time. Our guess is that he'll crack 4:15.

- The final men's podium step will be earned by 2017 Liberty winner MATT CYMANSKI, of Des Moines, IA.

- We're predicting an epic battle for the women's title between CHRISTINA ROBERTS, who demonstrated her aptitude at 70.3 here last year (4:40:34), and 2016 Minnesota Triathlete of the Year HANNA GRINAKER.Weather permitting, both women should break 4:40.

- We expect JULIA WEISBECKER to nuke the 50-54W CR, and JORDAN ROBY to break 4:30 in his 70.3 debut.

MTN will preview the 4th annual SUPERMAN 41.5 tomorrow.  RACE WEBSITE