Race Coverage
Minnesotans Rock in Pigland...
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Monday, 18 August 2014 00:10
17 Annual PIGMAN HALF & 3rd Annual PIGMAN OLYMPIC - David Thompson did NOT win the Pigman Half yesterday. Had he done so, the victory would have been his 10th at this, the upper MIdwest's oldest half, and the 19th 70.3-mile win of his career.
He didn't win because he didn't race. Instead, he went out and torched the course record in the Pigman Olympic Tri, a companion event inaugurated in 2012. The old CR --1:58:20--was set in 2013 by 2007 US Athlete of the Year Daniel Bretcher, a totally cool guy who got his pro license in 2008. David, who outsplit the entire field in every phase of the competition, posted a 1:54:56. Moreover, his margin of victory over the runner-up - Bretscher--was a porky 7:15.
The victory was the 92nd of Thompson's multisport career, and his 7th W of the 2014 season. David is currently sporting a semi-mohawk and it looks really, really cool....
Finishing 4th in the women's Olympic race was St. Paul's Bridget McCoy, who is a total sweetheart. Have you ever met her? If not, say hello to her the next time you see her in the transition area, or at Whole Foods.
In DKT's absence, Wisconsin pro Adam Bohach (3:57:21) won the 17th Pigman Half. Placing 3rd and winning the amateur title was Columbia Heights' Matthew Payne (4:13:49). It is M-Payne's 9th win of the year and 32nd of his impressive career. FYI, he didn't win his first race until the middle of the 2008 season.
Once again, Medina's Kevin O'Connor was the Top Master. His 4:14:42 placed him 4th overall / 2nd amateur.
Kortney Haag (photo) came into Big Pig XVII as a two-time champion, and though she wasn't the outright women's winner yesterday, she claimed the amateur title and placed 2nd overall behind pro Morgan Chaffin of Elkhorn, Nebraska. Chaffin's time was 4:36:25. Kort's clocking was 4:42:14. Haag now has three half IM wins this season (Rev 3 Wisconsin Dells, Chisago and Pigman). Nice.
Finishing 3rd in the women's race was Lino Lakes' gregarious Saskatewanian transplant Diane Hankee (4:47:09), who also placed 3rd at Chisago and, like Haag, is enjoying a successful season.
