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Josh & Becky Are 2024 Masters of the Year...
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Saturday, 16 November 2024 00:10
By Simon
2024 Minnesota Multisport Honors - Without much debate, Garfunkel and I agreed that JOSH BLANKENHEIM and BECKY YOUNGBERG are MTN's 2024 Masters of the Year. This was one of the easier categories to determine. Here's why:
JOSH BLANKENHEIM, 44, of Duluth, was the outright winner of three of the four Minnesota triathlons he did in 2024. He finished a very close 2nd in his only non-winning performance. Moreover, he was consistently fast in each race. His times were remininscent of those turned in by Minnesota Masters greats, Brian Bich, Matthew Payne and Kevin O'Connor. At Brewhouse, he was a close 2nd behind MI nominee Spencer Syvertson, who received serious consideration for a Triathlete of the Year nomination, then outraced Spencer at Lakes Country. Of the three male MOY nominees, Josh will have the highest placement on Team Minnesota.
We congratulate Sam Hauck and Brandon Lee on their nomination-worthy seasons. We especially commend Brandon for his versatility. He raced impressively at Sprint, Olympic and 70.3. ...
Tim & Cheryl Are 2024 GMOYs...
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Wednesday, 13 November 2024 00:10
By Garfunkel
In the past few weeks, Simon and I nominated 3 men and 3 women for Grand Master of the Year (55+ for women and 60+ for men). The time has come to announce winners of this honor.
Your 2024 Grand Masters of the Year are…
For the men: Tim Brown, 66, Emily
Tim, a now 3-time GMOY winner, started his season with a 5th overall at Apple Duathlon. He set age group records at Clearwater olympic and Chisago half. He also posted a very respectable time at Timberman olympic. What impressed us the most was his combination of race diversity (a duathlon, 2 oly’s, and a half) and doing so at a consistent national-class level...
Corbin Deichman is 2024 Junior of the Year...
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Monday, 11 November 2024 00:10
By Garfunkel
Minnesota junior triathletes (age 19 and under) have a long legacy of fast, prolific racing. To be named Junior of the Year (JOY), an athlete needs to stack up against historical standards, win against their fellow juniors, and be competitive against their adult counterparts. The Minnesota Multisport Honors Committee is happy to announce that Corbin Deichman, 16, Mankato, is your 2024 Junior of the Year. Also earning nominations were Noah Billings, 18, Rochester, and Sean Pickle, 19, St. Cloud.
Corbin has elite swim-run ability - not only compared to his fellow juniors, but even against MN’s top-tier adult triathletes. Though Corbin would be dangerous if he improved his cycling, he was the overall winner at the St. Louis sprint tri and the Maple Grove sprint tri, where he outdueled 2x Junior of the Year Noah Billings. He also landed on the overall podium (3rd place each) at the Fairmont sprint and Clearwater sprint. Deichman landed just seconds off the overall podium at Buzz Ryan sprint, too....
Sean, Nathan & Preston are 2024 TOY Nominees...
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Friday, 08 November 2024 00:10
By Simon
2024 Minnesota Multisport Honors - Here are the official nominees for 2024 Male Triathlete of the Year:
SEAN COOLEY, 39, Stillwater (photo)
An avid bike racer, Sean only had time for three tris in '24, but turned in POY efforts at two of those races. His 4:07 at Ironman 70.3 Des Moines was the fastest half IM time by a Minnesota triathlete last season, and his course record (4:10!) win at ultra-challenging Square Lake 70.3 were special, and his 2nd place finish at Chisago under truly adverse conditions was pretty dang good, too. Well deserved nomination.
NATHAN KIM, 22, Minneapolis
A rising star, his 2024 resume was highlighted by a big win at Chisago 70.3, and a fast 2nd at Maple Grove Olympic, where his 1:52:50 was only three seconds slower than Preston Youngdahl's course record-setting effort. KIm's Top 5s against deep fields at Door County Half and Ironman 70.3 Madison were also very impressive...
Elena, Heather & Caryn are 2024 TOY Nominees...
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Wednesday, 06 November 2024 00:10
Photo - TOY nominee Elena Jasper with her dad, Chuck Hengel, who is nominated for GMOY.
By Garfunkel
2024 Minnesota Multisport Honors - Triathlete of the Year is the most prestigious accolade that the Minnesota Multisport Honors Committee awards. The winner, by nature of the award, will also be ranked on top of Team Minnesota when that announcement is made. Here are the 3 women that Simon and I agreed earned Triathlete of the Year nominations for 2024:
Elena Jasper, 27, Deephaven:
Elena raced prolifically in 2024, which we love. She started the season with a 70.3 PR (4:47) in Chattanooga, won Lake Minnetonka sprint and Clearwater Olympic, was 3rd at Timberman Olympic and Maple Grove Olympic. She also won a 70.3 (Chisago) by pretty much tying her PR, and then proceeded to end the year with another 70.3 PR of 4:44 at Madison, placing 5th overall.
