FEATURES

Emergent...

Monday, 31 March 2014 05:10

The outdoor season is almost upon us. This is the time of year that the MTN Guys like to predict stuff, like who is going to totally rock. Here are a few athletes that we think will kick serious butt in 2014:

OLIVIA BAGNALL (photo) - We truly believe that this girl is special. Runner-up for Rookie of the Year in 2013, she won two races in course record time. Ranked 11th last year, we expect her to make Team MN this time around.

DENNIS DANE - Dennis is what we call a "lapsed" star. After four years --2006 to 2009--of impressive performances, Dane dropped out of sight. It had something to do with having babies and starting his own business. He returned to racing in 2012 and his results were good, albeit not quite the stuff that leads to placement on Team Minnesota. Last year, though, he...

rocked, and like Bagnall, was ranked 11th in his gender. Dennis won three races, all in CRs, and placed 2nd in two other events in 2013. We think he'll be even better this year.

DAVID PHILLIPS - This Maple Grove-based New Zealander is embarking on his 3rd season of multisport racing. In 2012, he podiumed in three of the five events he entered. Last year he won three races and made the podium in three others. Largely untested against our state's Top Guys, we nevertheless think that David will rise to the occasion in 2014.

ED. MTN plans to highlight three emerging athletes on a weekly between now and June 1.

Yndecam Photo R - Dennis Dane