FEATURES
Determining Team Minnesota: The Women...
-
Monday, 30 November 2015 00:10
Photo - Team Minnesota's (L-R) - Kelly Trom (11th), Gaby Bunten (5th) and Christina Roberts (2nd).
MINNESOTA MULTISPORT AWARDS - The way TEAM MINNESOTA is determined is this: After the Committee argues for several days and grows to hate each other, each member ranks their Top 15 men and women. Points are assigned to places and the athletes are ranked from fewest points to most points.
Today we explain some of the rationale behind the ranking of the women of Team Minnesota 2015. Their 2014 rankings are in parentheses....
Apple Trumped Du Nationals...
-
Saturday, 28 November 2015 06:10
MINNESOTA MULTISPORT AWARDS - MATT PAYNE's amateur CR at Apple was named the male PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR. That one of Matt's two nominated performances would win was a foregone conclusion, at least that's the way the MMA Committee saw it. Though KEVIN O'CONNOR's nominated win at Sprint Duathlon Nationals was awesome, most would agree that Matt's win at the more competitive Standard Distance Du Nationals was a tad awesomer.
As for STEVE MORRIS' 5th place finish at Ironman Wisconsin, it was clear early on that a 5th wasn't going to trump a pair on National Title victories.
Then there was Matt's second nomination, his amateur course record-setting win at the Apple Duathlon. Could it displace his or Kevin's efforts at Du Nationals? ...
Ironman is Special...
-
Tuesday, 24 November 2015 06:10
MINNESOTA MULTISPORT AWARDS - To many, picking MICHELLE ANDRES' dominating victory at Ironman Wisconsin was a slam dunk in the women's PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR category, and we would never claim that it wasn't worthy. Yes, it did win the trophy, but for several Selectors, it wasn't quite a slam dunk.
Here's why:
- ELAINE NELSON's nominated victory at Apple was arguably against the deepest women's run-bike-run field of the season in the US. Yes, even deeper that Standard Distance Nationals. It could be argued that, relatively...
A Very Difficult Category...
-
Tuesday, 24 November 2015 00:10
Photo (L-R) - Three MI nominees--Gaby, Lisa and Christina--and Triathlete of the Year Suzy Fox.
MINNESOTA MULTISPORT AWARDS - One of the most difficult categories to figure out was MOST IMPROVED women. Great arguments could be, and were, made for each of the nominees. The first factor that the Selectors considered was Team Minnesota placement in 2014 relative to this year. Here's how that broke down:
GABY BUNTEN - Ranked 12th in 2014; 5th in 2015 - Moved 7 places.
SHEENA DAUER - Ranked between 17th-20th in 2014; 9th in 2015 - Moved 9-11 places.
LISA LENDWAY - Ranked 11th in 2014; 3rd in 2015 - Moved 8 places...
Kevin & Bennett...
-
Sunday, 22 November 2015 06:10
MINNESOTA MULTISPORT AWARDS - Though most Selectors agreed that KEVIN O'CONNOR (photo L) deserved this year's male MASTER OF THE YEAR award, two committee members argued that the prize should go to TONY SCHILLER. They invoked a compelling Age Grading argument and claimed that Tony's two national AG titles, plus a Gold and Silver at Worlds, trumped Kevin's overall national sprint du title, two silvers at Tri Nationals and eight outright victories. The majority of the voters disagreed, citing the fact that since the millennial turn, no Minnesota master has won more races in a single season than did KO. That he was ultimately ranked 2nd on Team Minnesota sealed the deal in his favor.
The other nominees--JAMES HANNON and RICH HEILMAN--raced brilliantly, but less often than O'Connor and Schiller....
