Race Coverage

A Guy Thing...

Tuesday, 26 May 2015 00:10

2015 APPLE DUATHLON - The women's competition at last Saturday's Apple Du oozed historic epicosity. The men's race wasn't too shabby, either. An amateur CR was set, as was the bike course record.Three AG marks were rewritten as well. Here's what three-time du national champ Patrick Parish had to say:

Apple Duathlon sets the standard for an excellent race experience. I had a great day, but Matt took advantage of the longer course to return the favor from last week. His bike split was 18 seconds faster than David Thompson's best! That's legit. I held on for 2nd. No complaints.

And here's what Matt Payne had to say immediately after the event:

Awesome race today! This is about as fast as I can ever reasonably hope to cover this course. Great confidence booster going into Nationals in a couple weeks...

As we did with the women in yesterday's post, here's some commentary on the Top 10 men:

1. MATT PAYNE - 1:20:45 - The reigning US National Du Champ collected his 35th career W in course record time, shaving 19 seconds off Patrick Parish's 2012 CR. The performance moved Payne into 2nd place all-time on Apple's fastest dude list behind DKT's pro record 1:19:57. Was this Matt's best performance ever? Maybe.

2. PATRICK PARISH - 1:22:18 - In five starts  here, this was Parish's 2nd fastest effort.Patrick was the 2012 US DOY.

3. BROOKS GROSSINGER - 1:23:30 - In eight prior appearances here, Brooksie has never cracked 1:25. Saturday's effort was a HUGE PR. We sure hope he's racing at Nationals, where he'd have a great shot at the overall podium.

4. NATE HOFFMAN - 1:24:22 -The reigning US Sprint Du champ's previous PR here was a 6th place 1:27:20, set back in 2006. His career trajectory is going in the right direction.

5. BRIAN SAMES - 1:24:54 - Brian's previous PR on this course was 1:28:13. He was 3:19 faster than that on Saturday.

6. BENNETT ISABELLA - 1:25:30 - He's set numerous PRs over the last two seasons. His time on Saturday was 1:31 better than his prior best here.

7. LARRY HOSCH - 1:26:45 - Last year Larry set a PR here. His time was 1:28:50. On Saturday, he went more than two minutes faster. We'll see him in the Elite wave next year, no doubt.

8. MIKE BUENTING - 1:28:04 - In 2014, this former worlds medalist placed 15th overall in a PR 1:29:54. On Saturday, he Top 10ed, won the masters title and improved hs personal best by 1:50. Well done, Mike!

9. KEVIN O'CONNOR - 1:28:06 - Everyone knew when Kevin took a left out of T2, not a right, that he wasn't going to set any personal records. As they say, "When you've got to go. You've got to go."

10. BRANDON ORDWAY - 1:28:30 - This was Brandon's 3rd Apple appearance. Here's the breakdown: 2013 - 13th - 1:30:54, 2014 - 16th - 1:29:58. 2015 - 10th - 1:28:30.

ALSO: 12. JAMES HANNON, 57 - 1:29:26 - Unquestionably the masters performance of the day, James became the first 55-plusser ever to crack 1:30. His 2014 PR/CR was 1:31:24. On Saturday, he went 1:58 faster than that. Amazing. He took home the gold at Du Nationals last year. We see a second gold coming his way in less than two weeks.

AG WINNERS - 19U - Nick Klonne - 1:30:52 -JRCR, 40-44 - Mike Buenting - 45-49 - Peter Rainey, 50-54 - Derek Hager - 55-59 - James Hannon - AGCR - 60-64 - Dave Dow - 65-69 - Spike Millslagle - 70-74 - Daryl Stevens - 75-79 - Hank Larsen - 2:11:38 - AGCR.

Apple is not simple one of Minnesota's best races, it is one of the best multis in the US. Those who consider it America's best duathlon will get no argument from us.  RESULTS