Race Coverage

Triumphant Return...

Tuesday, 30 October 2012 02:10

(Photo - We hope Iowa photographer JT doesn't mind us using one of this shot of Dennis Dane. We've seen lots of his--JT's--stuff, and it's really good. Minnesota isn't the only place with major league triathlon photographers.)

DENNIS IS BACK! - The surname "Dane" isn't even Danish. That seems wrong, doesn't it?

The name is actually an old English deal, meaning "Valley Dweller." It thus seems prophetic, sorta, that triathlete Dennis Dane really is a valley dweller, sorta. He's from Golden Valley, one of the Twin Cities most valleyless suburbs. It's kinda like Montevideo, the little one in Minnesota, not the big one in Uruguay, from which one can gaze in every direction and still not view a mountain.

We digress....

Dennis Dane started his family and his new business back in 2009, the year he earned a spot on Team Minnesota, and, with the exception of one race in 2010 (Cannon Wells Du), had been too busy to return to racing until mid-July of this year. Good to have you back, DD!

And it appears that he just might return to his bygone form next season. How do we know? Well, after two rust-shaker-offers (Minneman and Chisago Sprint) in July, the quiet accountant went on to place 2nd (to Most Improved candidate Kyle Serreyn) at Lake Marion Olympic, then post back to back wins, the first at Square Lake Short Course, the 2nd more recently (September 16) at Iowa's Best Dam Sprint Triathlon (formerly TriHawks) in Coralville, which isn't far from Tiffin.

He really kicked ass in that one, breaking one hour (59:40) on the 600m-20K-5K route, and besting he closest challenger by a fudgy-pudgy 4:40. Cool Beans! RESULTS

An Olympic distance race was also staged and Walker, MN's Tom Klinger, 21, finished 7th. The college student also placed 3rd at Chase the Police and 9th at Maple Grove Olympic.

Minnesota women fared very well in the Olympic race, landing five college girls--Jessica Finlay (4th), Susanna Gabrielsen (6th), Anna Alter (9th), Gabby Keller (11th) and Hannah Walsh (15th)--in the Top 15. RESULTS

ED. Apologies to all who read this typo-ridden post before 10:52 am. We think we got most of them now.