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Nathan and Paige Again!

Sunday, 07 December 2025 00:10

By Bonnie & Clyde

Bonnie - Picking the 2025 Performances of the Year was tough. Was Paige's PR victory at Madison 70.3 superior to her runner-up effort at Ironman Chattanooga? I not sure, but I'm leaning towards her IM performance. Next week I might change my mind.

The same difficulty befell me with the men's POY selection. Was Nathan Kim's 2nd at St. Anthony's Olympic (1:53:26) more noteworthy than his 2nd at Madison 70.3 in a personal best 4:05:48. The Florida race is arguably the most competitive non-National Championship race in the US. And the winner at Madison (Tyler Tanko) was arguably America's best male amateur 2025. Heads or tails? I chose heads. Next week I may change my mind.

My picks for 2025 Performances of the Year: Paige Schulz' 2nd at Ironman Chattanooga and Nathan Kim's 2nd at St. Anthony's....

Clyde - On Performance of the Year: The two leading performances of 2025, on both the men's and women's side, were turned in by each Triathlete of the Year, Nathan Kim and Paige Schulz.  Nathan posted the fastest legitimate olympic distance time by a Minnesota amateur in over a decade (1:53:26) at St. Anthony’s in April. He then went on to set a 70.3 PR of 4:05:48 at Madison 70.3 in September. Like Bonnie, I believe a coinflip could decide which performance was more impressive. However, a couple of Minnesota amateurs have flirted with 4:00 half distance times in the past decade, but no MN amateurs have gone under 1:54 at an accurate olympic distance event in the last ten years. Thus, I also favor Nathan’s 2nd overall at St. Anthony’s as the male Performance of the Year.

Of Paige’s two nominated results – her win at 70.3 Madison and her 2nd place 9:43:35 at Chattanooga – I actually disagree with Bonnie and favor her 70.3 win. Yes, her Ironman time was incredibly impressive and is the fastest ever by a female Minnesotan amateur, but the swim (Paige’s weakest leg) had a generous current assist. However, her time of 4:34:48 was dropped on Madison’s challenging course, and Paige also had to navigate long transitions en route to her overall win (could a sub-4:30 have been possible if the transitions were not in a multi-story spiraling parking ramp???). Thus, I favor Paige’s 70.3 Madison win for the women’s Performance of the Year.

It wasn't a coin flip that determined the women's POY outcome, it was the eventual agreement that throughout Minnesota's tri-racing history, several amateur women have turned in 4:30s or faster--Hanna Cooley, Shyanne McGregor, Cathy Yndestad, Kortney Haag, to name a few--whereas Paige's 9:43 is a new standard that ambitious triathletes will be chasing. Therefore, Paige Schulz' 2nd at Ironman Chattanooga is the 2025 Female Performance of the Year.