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Elena, Caryn and Heather...

Thursday, 07 December 2023 00:10

By Goose

2023 Minnesota Multisport Honors - It is my job to recommend nominees in the various MMH categories, after which Mav will select his picks. I then have a chance to challlenge thos selections and because we are initially recommending three nominees per category, we can add a nominee, as we did in the men's Most Improved. My goal is to do as much name-dropping as possible initially, then Mav than narrow the field. In the case of women's Triathlete of the Year, however, three athletes outdistanced their peers. So, the three names listed below are my nominees and Mav can add or adjust as he sees fit.

At the bottom are names of other women who were considered for TOY but unfortunately came up a bit short. CHRISTINA ROBERTS' resume, for instance, was set back by the problems at Tri West, a race she would have finished no lower than 2nd if the course issues didn't happen. SHYANNE MCGREGOR's two performances in 2023--1st amateur @ Maine 70.3,and 3rd amateur at Chattanooga 70.3, where she outraced some of the pro women--were so good that I briefly considered lobbying for allowing just two performance eligibility, not three.

ELENA HENGEL, 27, Wayzata

2023 Highlights:

- 1st @ Buffalo Sprint

- 2nd amateur @ Iowa State Olympic Triathlon Championships

- 2nd @ Lake Minnetonka

- 2nd @ Timberman Olympic

- 5th @ Madison 70.3 ...

CARYN HERRICK, 33, St. Louis Park (top photo)

2023 Highlights:

- 1st @ Trinona Olympic

- 1st @ Clearwater Olympic