Race Coverage
Minnesota's Triple Crown Kick-Off...
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Monday, 10 June 2013 05:10
Trinona V - Pros nabbed the Top four men's places at Trinona Olympic on Sunday, with Minnesotans David Thompson, Dan Hedgecock and Devon Palmer comprising the podium. Fourth went to 20-year-old Illinois guy Reeven Nathan, whose parents should get "Style Points" for naming him Reeven, which is a totally cool frontal moniker.
The Top 3 was never in doubt, though the order was debatable. DKT had won the last three editions of this annual classic, which now serves as the kick-off event for Life Time Fitness' Minnesota Triple Crown Series (with Minneapolis and Maple Grove), but he had yet to demonstrate in 2013 his usual early season fitness. He was beaten the week before by Dan Hedgecock and there was some speculation that Dan's fitness--he's won three races already this year--would propel him to another victory on Sunday. He raced hard but David was just too strong on the bike. His 1-mph advantage gave him a sweet cushion. Though Hedge made up 2:17 during the run, Thompson still managed to win by a 1:26 margin. His 4th consecutive Trinona win was the 82nd W of his career...
The men's amateur champ was Dan Arlandson, who took 5th on the chilly, wet and windy morning in Winona. Dan was also the amateur champ at Oakdale last month.
Just as the men's podium was easy to forecast, so was the women's. Cathy Yndestad, Claire Bootsma and Suzy Fox seemed destined to go off the front, which they did. Coming off a course record effort at Buffalo the previous weekend, it would have been foolhardy to bet against CY, whose advantage over Claire going into T1 
proved fateful. Claire was able to make up almost two minutes on the run, but it was not quite enough to catch the woman who would record her 61st career multisport victory. For Claire, it was her third straight runner-up effort of the season. She was also 2nd here in 2012.
Fourth and fifth were earned by Andrea Myers and two-time Minnesota Master of the Year nominee, Ann Snuggerud. This was Ann's third consecutive 5th place finish at Trinona
The Trinona Sprint was won by Chris Sachs and 2011 winner Maureen Keane (FB photo L), both of whom won by a 1 minute-ish margin. Sachs asserted his authority on the bike, while Keane, a gifted runner, easily outran her competition. Four men broke the 1-hour mark on this .3-11-3 route. Eight women were able to dip under 1:10.
Approximately 1000 triathletes were entered in Trinona V. (Another 500 participated in the Time Trial and kids races.) The event is a two-time Triathletes Choice Race of the Year honoree. If you were there, you'd understand why. This post would have been longer but it's 4:30 and we don't want to miss Jeopardy.
(Cool Flexing Lady Photo courtesy of John Linn, Adventure Studios)
