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Women's Masters Team Minnesota...

Tuesday, 27 December 2016 23:10

As promised, today we are posting our very unofficial (only two of the MMA Committee members were available to participate in this process) Women's Masters Team Minnesota for 2016. So you know, this was much harder than figuring out overall Team Minnesota. This is because, other than the top four picks, all the other women took turns beating each other. So, as with women's overall Team MInnesota, this masters team is basically an All Star team, with places 6-10 (actually 6-15) being virtually interchangeable....

Remember, we did not employ an age-grading sytem here. All of these great athletes were treated as 40-year-olds.

Here's our tribute to those we believe to be the most successful 40-plus women in our state last season:

1. CHERYL ZITUR (51, Corcoran) - The three-time Minnesota MOY was the outright winner of three of the six events she entered, setting one course record, two Masters Records and four AG (50-54W) records. Clear choice for the top spot.

2. ANDREA MYERS (40, Plymouth) - In our opinion, Andi was the clear runner-up, and had she been able to beat Zitur in their only tri confrontation at Liberty Olympic there would have been a strong argument for her taking the #1 spot here. In 2016, Andrea set four Masters Records and made the overall podium thee times.

3. MANUELA KNISPEL (45, Shoreview) - As we write this, Knispel is receiving serious consideration for US Master Duathlete of the Year. She was undefeated against fellow Minnesota masters, won the masters crown at Du Nationals and finished her season as the fastest American (7th amateur overall) at the World Long Distance Du Championships--the Ironman of Run-Bike-Run--in Zofingen Switzerland.

4. JULIA WEISBECKER (50, Mendota Heights) - Like Cheryl, Andi and Manuela, Julia raced brilliantly in 2016. She was Top Master at Gear West, Life Time - Minneapolis and Toughman Sprint. The only Minnesota masters to beat her were Cheryl (Lake Waconia and LIberty) and Andrea (Liberty).

5. JAN GUENTHER (57, Mound) - Jan's a VERY special endurance athlete, a national treasure certainly. No one should be surprised that she's the only Grand Master on our list, or that she is ranked so highly. In five starts, she was the Top Master three times. She cracked the overall Top Five twice. The only Minnesota master to beat her was Julia, who finished one place in front of her at Gear West.

6. CHRISTEL KIPPENHAN (51, Bemidji) - In four regional starts, Christel cracked the overall Top 5 each time, including a win at Superior Man 41.5. She set Masters Records at Brewhouse Sprint and Superior Man 41.5.

7. JOYCE BOURASSA (48, Lakeville - photo R) - Joyce raced four times, winning three of those races--Waseca, Lake Marion Sprint and North Mankato--outright. In her other start, she placed 6th overall (Toughman Sprint), where she was beaten by fellow elite masters Julia Weisbecker and Kathy Grady (SD).

8. LAURA SWARTZ (50, St. Louis Park) - In regional action, Laura made the overall podium in three of the four races she entered. Zitur won two of those races, and Anne Grabowski the other. She was 2nd master at Lake Minnetonka behind Guenther.

9. ANNE GRABOWSKI (49, Minneapolis photo L) - Anne was Top Master at Trinona, Chequamegon Fat Tire and Minneapolis Sprint, which she won. Had she not DNFed at HOLT Sprint, where she was one of the favorites, and had a better performance at Maple Grove Sprint, where she placed 10th overall behind fellow elite masters Cheryl Zitur, Laura Swartz and Jennifer Knudsen, she would have placed much higher on this list, perhaps a high as 6th.

10. JENNIFER FITZHARRIS-FUNK (41, Minneapolis) - In four starts, she captured two masters titles (Esprit De She, which she won, and YWCA Women's Tri). In her other two races, she finished behind Anne Grabowski.

What needs to be remembered here is that the athletes are evaluated solely on their 2016 resumes, not their reputations. And Christel was right. The 50-plussers rocked, claiming half of the spots on the Team.

TOP PHOTO - Cheryl, Christel & Julia.