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21st Century Men's Team Minnesota...

Monday, 20 February 2017 23:10

As promised, today we are posting our "21st Century Men's Team Minnesota," doing so in alpha order, not by rank. These are the guys who set the performance bar in our state over the last decade-and-a-half:

- BRIAN BICH - Several time nominee for US AOY and MOY, actually winning the MOY in 2008, this four-time Minnesota TOY (5x Mn MOY) has amassed 46 multi wins this century.

- SEAN COOLEY - Since 2013 the transplanted North Dakotan has won sixteen Minnesota multis and has risen as high as the #2 spot on Team Minnesota. His four wins at Superior Man, especially his CR - 4:04:21, tipped the scales for him in our opinion.

- BROOKS GROSSINGER - There have been several mercurial athletes, guys with stellar results in their short careers, guys like Sam Hauck, Rob Gilles, Jeremy Sartain, Sam Janicki that were considered for spots on this Team, but we opted to honor a guy whose career is highlighted by longevity and consistency. With 29 tri/du wins this century, plus consistent placement on Team Minnesota, Brooks managed to edge out Brett Lovass (30 wins), and Kris Spoth, who needs just one or two more great seasons to displace any of the guys on this list.

- DAN HEDGECOCK (photo L) - Between his rookie season in 2010 and his final full season in 2014, the two-time Minnesota TOY collected 27 multisport victories and was twice named US AOY Honorable Mention. His major wins include Hy-Vee 5150 National Champs (2012), Life Time - Minneapolis (2012, 2011) and St. Anthony's (2012). He is also a former US Duathlete of the Year.

- KEVIN O'CONNOR - Winner of 17 multis in the last four years alone, Kevin was an obvious choice for the 21st Century Team. If we had created a 20th Century Team, KO would have been on that roster as well. In 2015 he won eight races, an all-time Minnesota record for a master.

- DEVON PALMER - The 2009 Minnesota Triathlete of the Year has won 19 multis in his career. Between 2010 and 2014, he raced as a professional.

- PATRICK PARISH - Five of PP's 33 career multisport wins were in national championship events. The 2010 Minnesota TOY is a slam dunk member of the 21st Century Team.

- MATTHEW PAYNE - Another slam dunk. Matt is a two-time US DOY, three time USAT AOY HM and four-time Minnesota Triathlete of the Year. Since his first win in July 2008, The Pain Train has amassed 47 tri/du victories, including two at the Best of the US National Championship.

- TONY SCHILLER - Since the millennial turn, Tony has been named US MOY twice, collected double-digit victories and more divisional gold medlas at Nationals and Worlds than any of his Minnesota peers. A look at his career resume suggests that he may be America's most decorated male amateur ever.

- DAVID THOMPSON - A pro since 2004, DKT has been our state's premier male multisporter for more than a decade-and-a-half. Thompson is one of just a handful of athletes in the history of our sport to have won more than a 100 races. His current total is 108.

(FYI - 11. Brett Lovaas (photo R), 12. Kris Spoth.)