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Complete List of MMH Nominees....

Monday, 08 November 2021 00:10

2021 MINNESOTA MULTISPORT HONORS - Here is a complete listing of MMH nominnes. Leading the way with four nominations apiece are a phenomenal 19-year-old who has truly paid his athletic dues in the years leading up to this season, and UM grad student whose rise has been meteoric. We're talking about KYLE SWENSON and RACHEL ZILINSKAS. Others receiving multple nominations are DAVID KOPPEL (3), JENNA HORNER (3), KORTNEY HAAG (2), TIM BONTRAGER (2) and tri-rookie HENRY JESSEN (2). What this tells us is that despite the pandemic's negative affect on our racing scene--loss of both races and athletes, many of whom are/were extremely decorated-- new names will emerge to perpetuate the high performance standards that our state is well known for.

Who will be the recipients of this year's MMHs? You'll know very soon.

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Kortney Haag (photo) Timoth Bontrager

Jenna Horner David Koppel

Rachel Zilinskas Kyle Swenson ...

Jenna, Heather & Rachel

Friday, 05 November 2021 00:10

2021 MINNESOTA MULTISPORT HONORS - Here are the finalists for Female Performance of the Year:

JENNA HORNER (photo) - 5th overall woman at Olympic Nationals.

HEATHER LENDWAY - 1st @ Lake Minnetonka Triathlon - 1:07:57. HL is the only woman to have broken 1:10 at LMT, which she has done twice.

RACHEL ZILINSKAS - Amateur women's course record at Ironman Lake Placid. - Her 9:52:33 lowered the record Kirsten Schut of the RSA by 8:41!

RACHEL ZILINSKAS - 2nd amateur woman / 1st US woman at St. George 70.3 World Championships. Her 4:34:01 was 7:06 faster than her winning time on the same challenging course earlier in the season at the North Amercan 70.3 Championships....

Henry, David & Kyle...

Tuesday, 02 November 2021 00:10

2021 MINNESOTA MULTISPORT HONORS - Here are the finalists for Men's Performance of the Year:

HENRY JESSEN (photo L) - 7th overall male at USA Triathlon Sprint Nationals. Henry's time was fast - 57:29--and he was only 1:15 behind the national champion.

COMMENT: Jessen, a tri rookie, was also the fastest Minnesotan at Olympic Nationals. Once again, his time was impressive - 1:58:25, and he outpaced all of his Minnesota peers. However, the national champion was almost eight minutes faster. It was agreed that Henry's Olympic performance deserved at POY Honorable mention.

COMMENT: Field depth and margin of victory made this performance special.

DAVID KOPPEL (photo below L)- Amateur Win at Heart of the Lakes - 1:31:37 on a hot day. Outraced the deepest men's field of the season....

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....

Double Dippers: Tim, David and Kyle....

Wednesday, 27 October 2021 00:10

2021 MINNESOTA MULTISPORT HONORS - Today we are combining two categories: Male Most Improved and Male Triathlete of the Year. This is because the same three athletes are nominated in both categories.

Here are those athletes, their 2021 racing highlights, and some commentary:

TIM BONTRAGER, 29, MInneapolis (photo L)

- 1st @ TriByKnight Sprint (IA)

- 1st @ Fairmont Olympic - 1:57:49

- 1st @ Buzz Ryan Sprint - Course record

- 1st @ Chisago Sprint

- 1st @ Shawnee Mission Sprint (KS) ...