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Heather & Preston are POY Winners!
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Monday, 25 November 2024 00:10
By Garfunkel
The 2024 triathlon season saw outstanding performances by established local elites and newcomers alike. A couple performances stood out from the rest though. These are Simon and my picks for the 2024 Performance of the Year.
Heather Lendway’s overall win at USAT Olympic-Distance Nationals:
Your 2013 and 2014 national champion became a three-peater in 2024. Her 2:07:11 was the fastest legitimate olympic-distance clocking by a Minnesota amateur woman since 2024. Winning this race is, quite literally, enough to earn a pro card if HL so chooses (and as she has done previously). Oh yeah, and she outraced her closest competitor by over two minutes.
Preston Youngdahl’s overall win at Maple Grove Olympic:
Maple Grove has become MN’s most competitive olympic-distance race and sees a great depth of talent, with racers looking to cap-off their season on its fast course. Previous champions include now-pro Ted...
Jellyfish, Vinegar & Shoulda Couldas....
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Friday, 22 November 2024 00:10
By Tim Brown
2024 Ironman World Championship Race Report - We arrived 6 days before the race in order to acclimate to the heat and time change. It seemed to me that the local community was much more appreciative and welcoming than my experience in 2019. The Covid, non-race years hit this tourist community very hard. I have to say the atmosphere among fellow racers was rather chilly. There was lots of pre-ride/run traffic on the course leading up to race day but everyone seemed to be all business. Not much Minnesota nice practiced here, or perhaps, just a lot of nerves in play. There was a definite sense of excitement in the air.
RACE DAY
Walked by the pre-race interview stage on my way to transition where the pros were in the spotlight sharing thoughts and predictions. Met Bob ("Breakfast with Bob") Babbitt on the way to transition. Bob is a super nice and gracious guy. Our conversation was a welcome diversion from the race morning jitters....
Caryn & Tevin are 2024 Most Improved...
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Tuesday, 19 November 2024 00:10
By Simon
2024 Minnesota Multisport Honors - CARYN WIKMAN and TEVIN NEEGARD are our picks for 2024 Most Improved. MI was a difficult category, as strong cases coud be made for each nominee. Here's why Garfunkel and I chose Caryn and Tevin:
CARYN WIKMAN, 34, St. Louis Park - It blew our minds when researching Caryn's career resume that she has never won an MMH. She has made the Top 5 on Team MInnesota twice, yet never collected an individual category award, despite several nominations. This season she only raced three times, but all three were decisive wins and POY-worthy:
1st @ Chisago Olympic - 2:10:45 - Margin of Victory: 7:11 (8:48 behind men's winner!)
1st @ Maple Grove Olympic - 2:05:09 - Margin of Viictory: 3:28
1st @ Ironman 70.3 Madison - 4:37:47 - Margin of Victory: 3:18...
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...
