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Praise for Julia...
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Sunday, 20 October 2024 00:10
By Garfunkel
In 2024, there were 4 women who deserved a Grand Master of the Year nomination. This made deciding on 3 official nominees an excruciatingly difficult task for Simon and me. We literally had days’ worth of back-and-forth emails debating which 3 women would make the cut, and who would just miss it. In the end, after both of us changed our mind because of the other’s arguments, we agreed that Jan, Christel, and Cheryl edged out Julia Weisbecker, 58, from Eagen by the narrowest of margins. I initially favored Julia over one of the women who did receive a nomination, and both Simon and I felt strongly that Julia needed her own shoutout.
This season saw Julia start off her campaign by rocking a 5:12:29 at Des Moines 70.3. She continued with a 4th overall at Chisago olympic in 2:23:22. This time, for a Grand Master woman, on the hot and windy day that transpired at Chisago’s Paradise Park, was insanely impressive. She wrapped up her year with a 3rd overall at Square Lake sprint....
Jan, Christel & Cheryl...
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Thursday, 17 October 2024 00:10
By Simon
As mentioned in Garfunkel's post, determining the three nominees for Female Grand Master of the Year was agonizing. The ultimate decision to leave JULIA WEISBECKER, 58, from Eagan, off the list was a toughie. And no, we are not sure that we made the right decision. In the end it came down to racing volume. Julia raced three times, each with elite results, while the other women turned in four or more great performances apiece. ...
Tim, Luke & Chuck are 2024 GMOY Nominees...
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Tuesday, 15 October 2024 00:10
By Garfunkel
The Minnesota Multisport Honors Committee has been hard at work identifying and name-dropping athletes who stood out in 2024. Now, the time has come for Simon and me to deliberate and officially nominate 3 athletes per award category. Below, in alphabetical order, and the 3 men aged 60+ who are up for this year’s Grand Master of the Year title:
Tim Brown, 66, Emily
Tim won this honor in 2020 and 2023. This season he rocked a 5th overall at Apple Duathlon, and set age group records at Clearwater olympic and Chisago half. The Committee loves when athletes show race diversity (i.e., racing a duathlon, an olympic distance, and a half distance in the same year), like Tim did this season. He raced consistently at a national-class level.
Luke Harned, 71, Mahtomedi
Luke raced prolifically this season with 7 (!) sprint distance finishes. He set age group records at Timberman and Big Lake sprints. A perennial nominee in this category.
Possible POY Nominations...
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Saturday, 12 October 2024 00:10
By Simon
Garfunkel and I will select what we agree to be the three most outstanding overall performances for both the men and women. They will be our official 2024 POY nominatees. Here are the performances that we are considering:
Men:
SEAN COOLEY, 39, Stillwater
- CR win @ Square Lake 70.3 - 4:10:57
- 5th @ Ironman 70.3 Des Moines - 4:07:57 (Fastest half IM time of the season by a MN triathlete)
MARCUS DUVAL, 33, Minneapolis
- Dominant win at Manitou International (1:59:46 - 1 mi. - 27 - 10k)...
More Names - Possible Male AOY Nominees...
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Thursday, 10 October 2024 00:10
By Simon
Which three men listed here will lock up Athlete of the Year nominations?
JOSH BLANKENHEIM, 44 Duluth - With three wins and a 2nd in four starts, Josh proved he deserves consideration here.
TIM BONTRAGER, 31, Minneapolis - Two wins and a 2nd this season. Will it be enough?
SEAN COOLEY, 39, Stillwater - A 4:10 win at uber-challenging Square Lake, a 4:14 2nd at hot, windy Chisago and a 4:07 5th at Des Moines 70.3 could be enough for the former AOY to receive a nomination.
SAM HAUCK, 40, Eden. Prairie - Two big wins--Pigman Olympic and Timberman International--and a fast 7th (1:59) at Maple Grove. Enough for a second look?...
