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June 2015 Performance Report Card...

Tuesday, 30 June 2015 07:10

If the MMAs were presented every month during the season, who would win the awards for June 2015? Here are our choices:

JUNIOR OF THE MONTH - Nick Klonne, 18, Rockford - In three starts, Nick was top junior and set AG records each time. At Manitou, he placed 2nd overall and also cracked the Top 10 (9th) at Liberty Half. At Buffalo Olympic, he placed 11th.

Also considered: Eliot Slade, Mitchell Clayton and Alyson Welch.

MASTER OF MONTH: Kevin O'Connor, 44, Medina - KO raced often and awesomely. In five starts he had one outright win (Liberty Olympic), two amateur wins (Pigman Sprint and RochesterFest Olympic - Masters CR), a 2nd (Lake Waconia) and a 4th (Capitol City).

Also considered: Tony Schiller, Sarah Mercer, Cheryl Zitur. 

GRAND MASTER OF THE MONTH - Sheri Schrock, 61, Cohasset (photo L) - Sheri WON her AG by a huge margin at the ITU Long Distance World Championships in Motala, Sweden last weekend. For us, this effort gave her an edge over fellow considerees Jan Guenther, Greg Taylor and Deb Roberts....

MOST IMPROVED - JUNE 2015 - Bennett Isabella, 32, Burnsville (photo R) - Volume and consistency gave the edge over a super group of contenders here. His June resume includes 2nds at Du Nationals, Liberty Olympic and Lake Waconia, and a 6th at Apple.

Also considered: Gaby Bunten, Bridget McCoy, Mike Ward, Sheena Dauer.

DUATHLETE OF THE MONTH - Jenn Scudiero, 31, Eagan - In back-to-back efforts, Jenn placed 2nd at Du Nationals and 4th at Sprint Nationals.

Also Considered (based on minimum of two performances): Nate Hoffman.

PERFORMANCE OF THE MONTH - WOMEN - Suzie Fox's record-setting win at Lake Waconia. We were also super-impressed with Elaine Nelson's W at Apple against a women's field that rivaled, perhaps exceeded, the women's field at Du Nationals. Nicole Heininger's win at Capitol City was also considered here.

PERFORMANCE OF THE MONTH - MEN - Matthew Payne's record-setting win at Apple Duathlon. Yes, we believe he was even more impressive at Apple than he was in a victorious effort at Du Nationals. His win at Capitol City was huge, too.

TRIATHLETES OF THE MONTH - Matthew Payne and Suzie Fox. No surpise here. Suzie had four wins in five starts; Matt won all three of the races he entered during the month.