Race Coverage
North Dakotans Excel at 20th Younglife Triathlon...
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Sunday, 20 August 2023 00:10
YOUNGLIFE OLYMPIC & SPRINT COVERAGE - North Dakotans have always supported the Younglife Triathlons, but never like this. Not only were their attendance numbers greater this year, but the lion's share of awards went to Peace Garden Staters. For instance, the Top 2 male finishers in the Olympic race were from Bismarck and Fargo respectively, and three of the Top 4 Olympic women also reside on the west side of the Red River.
The men's winner was JOSH ASKVIG, a perennial winner of his hometown tri, the Bis Man, Josh is also the race director of the Bismarck Marathon. A great guy.
Speaking of great people, Bismarckian MARNIE WALTH placed 2nd for the Olympic women. She is her state's winningest triathlete ever, gender notwithstanding, and has won the Younglife race on multiple occasions, as well as many other Minnesota tris and dus, e.g. Apple Du, Heart of the Lakes, Timberman, Square Lake, Blaine. Yesterday, she finished behind Detroit Lake's tri star CAMI ECKHOFF, Minnesota's Rookie of the Year in 2021 and Most Improved in 2002.
This performance was Cami's 3rd YL victory. She won the Sprint race in 2022 and 2021...
Yesterday's Sprint was won by Minnesotans SPENCER SYVERTSON and KADIE HOKANSON, both of whom are enjoying successful seasons. Hokanson came into the race with a win at Alexandria and a 2nd at Average Jo. We'd love to see her on the starting line at Lakes Country next weekend, where she and Spencer will compete for podium spots.
Syvertson's 2022 tri record is two wins, a 2nd and a 6th.
Runner-up in the men's sprint was former Big Lake Olympic winner RYAN COLLISON.
Of the 16 AG awards that were presented, eight were won by out-of-staters (ND - 6, SD - 1, ONT - 1). The races were well-attened this year, with 353 triathletes enrolled (not including paddle sport athletes), which is almost a 50-athlete increase over 2022.
