Race Coverage

CY, Ruther, Boots, Kort & HKM....

Tuesday, 17 July 2012 02:40

(Great YndeCam Image)

LTF Tri - Mpls Notes - As one of America's most prestigious multis, Life Time Fitness Tri - Minneapolis has always been a magnet for out-of-state and foreign talent. This is true on both the pro and amateur levels.

In the first decade of this iconic race, Minnesota women had never swept the amateur podium, a feat that our state's guys had managed to accomplish on three occasions (2012, 2011 and 2003)....

That changed last Saturday. "Our Girls" not only rocked the podium, they captured nine of the Top 10 places. Granted, this year's race did not lure as many "domestic foreigners" as in year's past, but a glance at the Top 5, arguably 5 of our state's fastest six women right now, suggests that these girls could have taken on all national/international comers and the results would have been exactly the same. Check it out:

1. Cathy Yndestad - 2:12:00 - This was CY's 6th LTF-Mpls win, her 5th in seven starts in 2012 and 56th of her amazing career. She could pick up her 4th US AOY nomination at season's end. FYI, Cathy won the AOY in 2009.

2. Ruth Brennan- Morrey - 2:12:40 - Ruthie was 7:19 behind Yndestad when she left T2. She then threw down a 35:48 10K, a time beaten on by Olympian Gwen Jorgenson, the runner-up in the women's pro race. RBM has won five of the six multis she's entered this year and could also receive an AOY nomination when this season's dust clears. We predict that she WILL WIN the US Duathlete of the Year award.

3. Claire Bootsma - 2:13:14 - Claire was "All Everything" on the Minnesota scene in 2011, winning three MMAs, including Triathlete of the Year. A big effort at Nationals and/or HyVee could earn Boots an AOY nomination. That's right, it's conceivable that three Minnesota girls will receive national post-season USAT recognition.

4. Kortney Haag - 2:17:57 - We're so proud of Kort. She's focused on her IM debut in Madison in September and is more interested in mileage than speedwork this year. Haag may be the premier US amateur at the 70.3 distance right now. The two fast girls--Oklahoma's Jen Sloan and California's Christina Jackson--who managed to beat her, albeit not by much, in 2011 halves have since procured pro licenses.

5. Heidi Keller-Miler - 2:19:22 - At 48, HKM's goal last Saturday was to take the Elite Masters title, which she did by a 4:18 margin. A former pro, Heidi had two podium finishes (1989, 1990) in Life Time's predecessor event, the US Swim and Fitness Triathlon. Keller-Miler won the Minnesota Master of the Year award in 2011 and is the frontrunner to earn this year's award.

BALLSY PREDICTION: For the first time ever, three Minnesota girls will crack the Top 10 at Nationals next month. Who? Ruther, Boots and Steph Solfelt. Cathy will be in Colorado doing fun Colorado-y stuff.

YndeCam Photo Above R - Ruthie, CY & Boots.