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July 2018 AOMs....

Sunday, 05 August 2018 23:10

JULY ATHLETES OF THE MONTH - Which Minnesota triathletes rocked out the hardest in July? 

The competition for some of these acknowledgements was stiff in some categories, especially overall ATHLETES OF THE MONTH. There were other categories where it was hard to find an athlete that meets the basic criteria, i.e. at least TWO performances that uphold current elite performance standards. Men's MASTER OF THE MONTH and men's GRAND MASTER OF THE MONTH are examples of this. KEVIN O'CONNOR, 47, and DAVID HOLDEN, 49, for instance, each turned in one truly outstanding performance in July, KO at Chisago Sprint and Holden at Minneapolis Olympic. If they had only entered one more race....

So, here are our picks for MALE and FEMALE OVERALL JULY ATHLETE OF THE MONTH:  SEAN COOLEY, 32, St. Paul & HANNA GRINAKER, 28, St. Paul (photo L)

Sean raced three times in July, winning the prestigious Minnespolis Triathlon, then placing 2nd at Heart of the Lakes and Chisago Half. There were two HMs in the men's AOM: JORDAN ROBY, winner at Timberman and Turtleman, and KRIS SPOTH, winner at Heart of the Lakses Sprint and 2nd at Minneapolis....

Hanna also raced three times, and each effort was worthy of a Performance of the Year nomination. Starting with her victory at Minneapolis wherein she matched the second fastest amateur time in race history (2:08:06!), then the next day breaking the magical 1:40 mark at Heart of the Lakes, a feat that hadn't been accomplished since 2009. She finished off the month with a resounding win at Chisago Lakes Half IM. Her 4:28:34 was bettered only by Ruth Brennan Morrey (4:25:55 in 2012) and Jackie Hering (4:27:44 in 2010), both of whom turned pro shortly thereafter, begging the question: "Will Hanna get a pro license next season?"

HMs include GABY BUNTEN (CR at Heart of the Lakes Sprint, 2nd at Minneapolis - 2:09:12- and New York City Olympic), CHRISTINA ROBERTS (1st @ Timberman and Ignite Swim/Run, and BECKY YOUNGBERG (2nd at Heart of the Lakes and Chisago Half).

- JULY MASTER OF THE MONTH:  BECKY YOUNGBERG, 43, Eden Prairie (photo L)

Beck was slam dunk pick. Peerless in July, her 2nd at Heart of the Lakes proved to be the fastest female masters clocking since 2006. Then her 2nd at Chisago was nothing short of amazing. Her 4:37:04 lowered the women's MR by more than seven-and-a-half minutes.

- JULY JUNIORS OF THE MONTH - CARTER DEICHMAN, 17, Mankato & TAYLOR LUNDQUIST, 18, Osseo

Carter's July featured strong AG wins at Minneapolis Sprint and Chisago Sprint, and a close 2nd (19-seconds) in his divisiona at Buzz Ryan behind NATHAN BICH, 19, but racing USAT-20. (MTN recognizes race day age.)

Taylor's July resume was stunning. It started with an outright women's win, in CR time, no less, at Timberman Sprint, and was followed by her AG record at Buzz Ryan, where she placed 3rd overall in the women's competition.

- JULY GRAND MASTER OF THE MONTH - PAM STEVENS, 65, Sartell

Pam raced twice in July, setting an AG record both times. First, she placed 11th overall woman at Timberman. Sixty-five-year-olds aren't supposed to do that! She followed that up with her win at Evergreen Sprint in Colorado, where she won her AG by 24:47, and bettered the 60-64W winning time by more than five minutes. She would have placed 3rd in the 55-59 division.