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Why Keeghan?
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Monday, 06 November 2017 19:10
MINNESOTA MULTISPORT AWARDS - When determining nominees and eventual MMA winners, the Selectors scrutinize resumes, measuring performances against records and legacies, evaluating field depth and head-to-head battles. We try to determine if the potential nominees approach, match or exceed the standards set by their predecessors. For instance, today's Masters are measured against the likes of Tony Schiller, Brian Bich, Kevin O'Connor, Jan Guenther, Heidi Keller-Miler, Cheryl Zitur and Marnie Walth; today's Juniors are compared to Beth Zirbes, Greta Danielson, Kate Lowrey, Michael Williams, Jason Liebsch and Nick Klonne.
Nominees and winners are determined democatically. Selectors make their cases for the athletes they believe deserve to be nominated, hoping to influence the others. In the end, each Selector submits the names of those they believe deserve to be nominated, and the four athletes receiving the most support receive nominations. After the nominees are chosen, the process starts again. Selectors argue for the athletes they believe should win the awards.
In the end, no Selector gets everything that they argue for. A perfect example of this was the determination of female Triathlete of the Year. For the first time in the nineteen-year history of the awards, THREE athletes received Selector support. In years past, a clear favorite, one all the Selectors could agree upon, emerged in this category: Jan Guenther (1999-2001), Wendy Peterson (2002-2003), Becky Youngberg (2004), Emily Deppe (2005), Marlo Crosby (2006), Cathy Yndestad (2007 -2010), Claire Bootsma (2011), Ruth Brennan Morrey (2012), Heather Lendway (2013-2014), Suzie Fox (2016), Hanna Grinaker (2016).
But that was not the case this year, and the arguments that ensued were heated, and lasted for weeks. Strong cases were made for Gaby Bunten, Christina Roberts and Kortney Haag, with Gaby eventually coming out on top. ....
Kevin, Mitch and YWCA...
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Sunday, 05 November 2017 19:10
Over the next two weeks we will share the rationale for the MMA Selections. Today we will explain the two "SPECIAL" awards and reveal the vote count for RACE OF THE YEAR...
2017 MMAs - The Winners!
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Saturday, 04 November 2017 19:10
The 19th annual MINNESOTA MULTISPORT AWARDS party happened last evening at Gear West Bike & Triathlon. Gaby Bunten, Sean Cooley and Wade Cruser led the way with two wins apiece.
Here are the winners:
- TRIATHLETE OF THE YEAR – SEAN COOLEY, 31, St. Paul & GABY BUNTEN, 25, Forest Lake
- LONG DISTANCE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – SEAN COOLEY
- DUATHLETE OF THE YEAR – WADE CRUSER, 30, Sauk Rapids
- PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR – WOMEN –DANI VSETECKA's win at Madison 70.3
- PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR – MEN – WADE CRUSER's win at Apple Duathlon
- MOST IMPROVED – NATHAN ANSBAUGH, 30, Minneapolis & GABY BUNTEN ...
- SPECIAL AWARD - "COMMUNITY" - KEVIN O'CONNOR
- SPECIAL AWARD - "COMEBACK" - MITCH BREKKE
Should Triathlon Define You?
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Friday, 03 November 2017 23:10
By Sarah Barker (triathlete.com)
Five steps to maintain a sense of self when triathlon gets put on the backburner
At 33, Rick Crump was single and living la vida triathlete: hammering Saturday rides with a group of guys, going to Kona. They loved to work out; they loved to compete.
—as the three ‘R’-named athletes called themselves—were age-group aces. Yes, middle school PE teaching paid the bills, but in Crump’s (very efficient) heart, he was a triathlete.
Crump now admits that stepping away from the sport cold turkey triggered an identity crisis. At 52, he became depressed and gained 20 pounds. “I loved being a dad and a PE teacher, but I couldn’t think of myself as a competitive athlete those first two years, and neither did other people.” ...
Nexts in Line....Part III...
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Thursday, 02 November 2017 23:10
SkinnySki.com photo of Nicole Heininger. Skinnyski.com is an awesome site. If you are not a regular visitor, check it out.
Here is Part III of our "Next in LIne" series of posts, which highlight those athletes who were the next in line for MMA nominations.
- Long Distance AOY - In addition to those who received nominations, three athletes were also considered: JORDAN ROBY, DIANE HANKEE and KELLY TROM. Kelly's effort at Chisago (3rd in 4:40:58) was arguably the best half IM performance from these three, though Jordan's 4:15 70.3 debut at Superior Man was close, but Hankee and Roby duked-it-out for the Next in LIne. Diane's 4th place finishes at both Florida 70.3 and Chisago gave her the slightest edge here.
- Performance of the Year - Men - This was not a toughie. Our pick for Next in Line was KRIS SPOTH's win at Copper Creek Sprint. Why? Because he outraced runner-up Evan Culbert (IA), who won at Minneapolis and placed 6th overall at Nationals, and is a likely 2017 USAT AOY HM, and 3rd placer Reece Linder, 19 (IA), who dominated at Maple Grove Olympic and appears to be a shoo-in for a US Junior of the Year HM.
- Performance of the Year - Women - Our Next in Line was GABY BUNTEN's runaway victory in Life Time - South Beach. Her margin of victory was ridonkulous--9+ minutes--over former Brazilian Olympian Carla Moreno. ...
