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Opening Day!
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Saturday, 01 August 2020 23:10
GRANITEMAN BIG LAKE SPRINT - JOSH MORK is a "mustache guy," though he hasn't truly settled on his style preference yet. He sported the Yosemite Sam look for a while, but had recently traded that in for the Snidely Whiplash look, though only after giving serious consideration to Handlebar and Walrus options.
Snidely Mork is also a humble guy. He demonstrated that humility yesterday at Big Lake Sprint after he won the race, the seventh of his meteoric tri career. He admitted that his victory may have been helped by the misfortune of his good friend DAVID KOPPEL, who was hit, but not injured, unlike his bike, by a motorcyle. Josh said that he believed that David would have picked up his first career tri victory had the accident not occurred.
Fourth placer JOE ADRIAENS was also in position to, perhaps, claim his first tri win, or at least turn the battle for the Top Step into a down-to-the-wire, three man affair with Mork and Koppel, but a wrong turn on the bike course added extra time-sucking distance to his effort. Nevertheless, Joe finished less than a minute behind the official winner. It was a brilliant performance, one that clearly demonstrated that Joe, like David, is ready to win races and rank in the upper echelons of his peers....
Friendships New & Renewed....
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Thursday, 30 July 2020 23:10
By Steve Gunther
2020 Camp Gunther National Championships - It was a dark, stormy morning and the wind was howling as the race directors, Helen and Steve Gunther, placed the turn signs on the bike and run courses. It was the day of the 2020 Camp Gunther Sprint Triathlon World Championships and canceling the race was in the back of their minds. They knew how disappointed the athletes would be and prayed to the weather gods for relief.
And by 7:30, the clouds lifted at Camp Gunther and the sun broke out in a warming dance across the water. The buoys were placed and the volunteer kayakers were in place. The triathletes toed the line for the social distanced start under the bright red TYR arch. Laughing and eager for the competition, the athletes were off, gliding around the diamond shaped course, some choosing one lap, some choosing two. T1 was a casual affair, some eating gels and bars and others eating chips while they waited for the last swimmer to arrive. This was no ordinary competition, more of a coopetition!...
COVID-19 Racing Guidelines....
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Wednesday, 29 July 2020 23:10
By Maria Simone (trainingpeaks.com)
Like tiny flower buds in early spring, we are seeing the signs of a racing season getting ready to emerge. COVID-19 racing guidelines have been published by most of the main endurance sport organizations; race directors are finding creative ways to make in-person racing safe; and athletes are joining in groups once again....
Cheering Campers & Glasses-Eating Porta Potties...
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Monday, 27 July 2020 23:10
By Sophie Rabino (U-Minnesota Tri Team Vice President)
Pigman Sprint Race Report - What a weekend!!
First off, we want to thank everyone who made this a fun and safe race atmosphere! We had a few mishaps along the way (bike falling off car, glasses dropping in porta potty, missing chain link, etc) but all 3 gophers crossed the finish line!
We started the morning in transition for our race briefing. After the announcements, we were walked in a single file line down to the beach for the swim start...kinda felt like we were back in kindergarten....
Big Lake Preview III - The Women...Updated...
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Saturday, 25 July 2020 23:10
GRANITEMAN BIG LAKE PREVIEW #3 - Today we are discussing the female frontrunners based on a list we saw more than a week ago. We suspect that other contenders have either enrolled or will do so before the first wave is launched on August 1.
Here are five athletes who we believe will vy for spots on the women's podium:
JENNA HORNER, 22 (photo L) – If Myer's COVID recovery takes her out of contention for the win on August 1, then we believe that Horner and Kristina Swenson will fight over the Top Step. Jenna improved significantly in the last half of the 2019 season wherein she was able to nip Swenson by one second at Sprint Nationals, and by a substantial margin at Olympic Nationals. Swenson, however, beat her in their prior confrontation at High Cliff Olympic in 2018. Horner's bike and run creds are superior to Swenson's, but Kristina has a large advantage in the water. She'll need a big lead in the first leg to hold off Horner. In the end, though, we think that Jenna will collect her first tri victory on Minnesota soil....
