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The Slam Dunks & Race of the Year...

Tuesday, 28 October 2014 01:10

Minnesota Multisport Awards - MMA winners in most of the categories--Rookies, Male Master, Junior, Most Improved (Men and Women), Duathlete, Long Distance Athlete of the Year and Performance of the Year (Men and Women)--were extremely difficult to determine and required much analysis and debate.

On the other hand, the winners in four of the categories were considered by the Committee to be "Slam Dunks".

Arguably, the Slam Dunkiest of all the categories was GRAND MASTER OF THE YEAR. Though there were four great nominees, all of whom had the kind of season that may have won the award in prior years, one guy stood tall above the rest: GREG TAYLOR. With his victory at Nationals (margin: 3:13), 70.3 Worlds (4:42:14 - Margin: 16:16) and at Kona (Margin: 30:02), not to mention his...

divisional win at St. George 70.3 and his unprecedented success regionally, it appears that Taylor is a shoo-in to win the USAT GMOY.

Next on the most "Slam Dunkiest" list would be the TRIATHLETE OF THE YEAR winners, HEATHER LENDWAY and MATTHEW PAYNE. Few would argue that these athletes were in a league of their own in 2014. Between them, they won 21 races, most by insane margins. HL should win the USAT AOY and The Pain Train should receive an AOY HM.

CHERYL ZITUR (photo R with husband Dave, a totally decent guy) was a slam dunk in her category, i.e. FEMALE MASTER OF THE YEAR. This year the 49-year-old from Corcoran was the outright woman's winner of three of the four regional races she entered, and she placed 2nd in the other. She also collected Bronze medals at Nationals and Worlds.

ALSO: Here is the voting breakdown in the TRIATHLETES CHOICE RACE OF THE YEAR category:

WINNER - SUPERIOR MAN - 353 Starters / 93 Votes = 23.1% *

2. YWCA WOMEN'S TRIATHLON - 996 Starters / 208 Votes * = 21%

3. LAKE MINNETONKA - 505 Starters / 69 Votes - 13.6%

4. TIMBERMAN - 363 Starters / 24 Votes - 6.6%

5. LIFE TIME TRI - TRINONA - 782 Starters / 38 Votes - 4.9%

* Individual vote record (YWCA) & highest voter percentage (SM)