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Kort, Jenna & Rachel...

Saturday, 30 October 2021 00:10

2021 MINNESOTA MULTISPORT HONORS - Here are the three women nominated for 2021 Triathlete of the Year, and why they were chosen:

KORTNEY HAAG, 42, Maple Grove (photo below)

While Jenna and Rachel were making names for themselves on the national tri scene, Kortney was dominant locally, winning three of the four races she did, and placing 2nd in the other. Two of her victories were in half IMs, raising her career W total at the distance to 11....

JENNA HORNER, 23, Eden Prairie (photo center)

Jenna sought out the largest and most compeptitive races, and excelled in every one. More impressive than her victory at Harvest Sprint in Massachusetts were her 5th (Olympic) and 10th (Sprint) at Nationals, her Top 5 finish at Collegiate Nationals in a field full of future pros, and her 2nd at Rev 3 Williamsburg Olympic, where she was outraced by super-teen Ellison Wolfe, who was dominant in mid-Atlantic races and deserves to be a finalist for US Junior Athlete of the Year. Oh yeah, she also rocked at long distance, placing 2nd at Ironman 70.3 Maine.

RACHEL ZILINSKAS, 26, Minneapolis (photo L)

Destined to join Wisconsin's Annmarie Strehlow on the list of USA Triathlon 2021 Athlete of the Year finalists is UM Grad student Rachel Zilinskas, who won three major long distance events, all by remarkable margins. In the other, she placed 2nd / 1st American at the 70.3 World Championships in St. George, Utah. Like Jenna, professional racing may be in her near future.