Race Coverage

"...Hurt So Good"....

Sunday, 24 May 2015 06:10

Photo - Eight of the Top 10 women (L-R) at Apple XXXIII - Diane, Christina, Kort, Jenn, Heiney, Suz, Lisa and Jas.

33rd APPLE DUATHLON - On her Facebook page, two-time Apple Duathlon winner Suzy Fox had this to say:  ...

This was the deepest women's field I've faced in 7 straight years here, I LOVE it! Today 7 of us ladies dipped under my winning time in 2011 & 6 beat my winning time from 2013, crazy!!! The talent, support, & friendship in female MN amateur racing is bigger & better then ever, so excited for this season! Thanks Momma Heiney for capturing our day with my camera.

That comment was posted the day after the race. Immediately after the event, she posted these words:

It was a pleasure & a privilege to lead these bad mamba jambas from mile 4 on the bike through 3/4 of a mile shy of the finish line at the Apple Duathlon today. I gave the bike every ounce of strength & heart I had but it wasn't quite enough to hold off the hard charging Elaine Nelson who runs like a maniac & cross country skis with a toddler on her back! Congrats on the win girlfriend! Super fun race & a heck of a women's field! Duathlon season 2015 is a wrap! Oh duathlons, I love the way that you hurt so good...

The women's race was, here comes that word again, EPIC. Deep fields make for fast times. Add great weather and enthusiastic sideline support and the times get even faster. Here's a breakdown of the top 10 female performances:

1. ELAINE NELSON - 1:34:06 - Elaine's Apple debut resulted in her 11th career multisport win in only 17 starts. Her time was the 9th fastest in Apple history, sixth fastest by an amateur. Elaine's 3rd place effort at Gear West the prior weekend appeared to have been a result of cramping that slowed her transitions. She had no such issues on Saturday.

2. SUZIE FOX - 1:34:40 - The two-time Apple champ turned in her 2nd fastest time in six starts here. (photo R)

3. SHEENA DAUER - 1:36:19 - This was the breakout performance of the day for the women. A talented road racer (runner), she put it all together last Saturday. She also won at Morris Tinman last month. Like Larry Hosch (see yesterday's story), she did not start in the Elite Wave. We suspect that she will next time, though.

4. KORTNEY HAAG - 1:37:07 - In three starts here, this was KOrt's fast time, a PR by 1:08, and best placing, two spots better than her 2014 effort.

5. LISA LENDWAY - 1:37:30 - Lisa's du resume in 2015 has been stellar. A CR win at Cinco Du Mayo Sprint and a 2nd at Gear West leading up to her successful 5th in her Apple debut.

6. CHRISTINA ROBERTS - 1:38:12 - This was Christina's duathlon debut, and a very successful one. Her fast run splits kept her in contention.

7. JENN SCUDIERO - 1:38:29 - This was Jenn's 2nd fastest time in four starts at Apple. Her PR was a 1:37:59 last year.

8. NICOLE HEININGER - 1:39:18 - This was Heiney's Apple debut.

9. MANUELA KNISPEL - 1:39:26 - For the 2nd consecutive year, Manuela was the Top female master at Apple. Her time on Saturday was almost seven minutes faster than last year.

10. JASMINE CARLSON - 1:40:18 - Jas was a little faster here last year (1:39:25), but this was her first race of the 2015 season. In 2014, she had raced at Gear West the week before Apple.

To further punctuate Suzie's observations, here is an awesome statistic: 9 women broke 1:40 on Saturday, the most in the 12 years that this course (or distances) has been in place. In 2009, eight women broke 1:40 BUT that year Apple hosted a Worlds Qualifier and athletes from all over the US participated. FYI, 61 women have broken 1:40 here, that's an average of 5 per year. Sure puts Saturday's "9" into perspective, doesn't it?

AG WINNERS - 19U - Emily Quandt, 40-44 - Manuela Knispel, 45-49 - Deborah Thell, - 50-54 - Tracy Serreyn, - 55-59 - Judy Murray, - 60-64 - Sheri Schrock. - 65-69 - Ann Rhea, - 70-74 - Fran Marquart, WA.  RESULTS

ED. Stuff about the men's race will post tomorrow.