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Why Diane?

Wednesday, 15 November 2017 23:10

2017 MINNESOTA MULTISPORT AWARDS – The next category needing explanation is female MASTER OF THE YEAR, which was won by DIANE HANKEE (40, Lino Lakes). Her challengers were Christel Kippenhan (52, Bemidji), Andrea Myers (41, Plymouth) and Julia Weisbecker (51, Mendota Heights).

Let's compare the resumes:

• CHRISTEL KIPPENHAN – This was Christel's third MOY nomination. Her highlights included an overall women's win in Masters record time at Superior Man 41.5 and a overall 3^rd at Brewhouse Sprint. Her loss to fellow nominee Julia at Liberty Olympic didn't help her chances here.

• ANDREA MYERS – Another excellent year; another MOY nomination. Finishing 12^th in the Team Minnesota voting made her the clear runner-up for the award this year. Her resume featured two outright wins (Liberty Olympic and Hopkins Royal), plus overall women's podiums at Timberman and Green Lake Olympic, and a Top 5 at Heart of the Lakes. She excelled in dus, as well as tris.

• JULIA WEISBECKER – Like Myers, Julia also was an MOY nominee in 2016. Based on racing volume, the former Dartmouth tennis star appeared to be out of the running for a nomination. She announced after her Masters record effort at Superior Man Half that her tri season was over, but changed her mind and entered the Square Lake Triathlon two week later, where she finished 2^nd overall. Check out her final resume: 2^nd overall woman @ Liberty Olympic, 2^nd overall woman @ Square Lake, 5^th woman @ Superior Man - MR, 7^th woman - 1^st Master - @ Minneapolis. Very nomination-worthy stuff....

   

• DIANE HANKEE – A slam dunk selection. Her resume had volume, quality and versatility. Check it out:

  - 1^st overall woman @ Gear West Du (Beating Elaine Nelson - 4^th on Team Minnesota, Suzie Fox - 8^th on Team MN, Maggie Weiss - 9^th on Team MN), as well as Jenn Scudiero, Erin Farrens and Andrea Myers.

  - 1^st amateur woman / 2^nd overall (behind Heather Lendway) @ Pigman Sprint.

  - 2^nd overall woman @ Heart of the Lakes

  - 2^nd overall @ Lake Waconia

  - 2^nd amateur @ YWCA Women's Triathlon - MR

  - 3^rd overall woman @ Apple Duathlon

  - 4^th overall woman @ Maple Grove Olympic – 2:13:33 – MR

  - 4^th overall woman @ Chisago Half – 4:47:30

  - 5^th amateur woman @ Florida 70.3 - 1^st Master

  Diane's excellent resume not only earned her the MOY, it landed her in 6^th place on Team Minnesota. Not since 2011 has a female Minnesota Master (Heidi Keller Miler) placed that highly on the Team.