Race Coverage

Minnesota: America's Du Capitol...

Tuesday, 09 June 2015 00:10

Photo - Minnesota men swept the Standard Distance podium. Nate Hoffman (L) placed 3rd. Bennett Isabella (R) took 2nd.

DUATHLON NATIONALS - Matt Payne had planned to do only three dus this season, all of which he's already completed. It appears that his performances in those three races, two major wins and a second, could garner him his second straight US Duathlete of the Year award. Perhaps sealing the deal was his masterful victory at Du National last Saturday. In doing so, he became one of a few athletes in the history of the sport to have won back-to-back national championships....

Matt's also won a Apple, setting an amateur course record and breaking the bike course record. His first du of the year resulted in a 2nd place finish at Gear West. For USAT, and MTN, too, his performance at GWD was considered an "amateur win," since he was beaten by a professional duathlete (Patrick Parish). In other words, Matt is perceived to be undefeated in R-B-R action in 2015.

As impressive as Matt was last weekend, his win surprised no one, not here in Minnesota, or anywhere else. We doubt that there is an aficionado of run-bike-run that hasn't heard of M-Payne by now, nor agree that he is a cut or two above his competition.

Perhaps the most impressive male performance at Du Nationals, because it was a very pleasant surprise, was turned in by runner-up Bennett Isabella. Bennett rocked at Du Nats in 2014, placing 5th, but the gulf between 5th and 2nd at the championship level is a wide one.

Proving that Minnesota has more top-end talent than any other state right now, our state's men claimed five of the Top 7 overall spots. Joining Payne and Isabella in this group were 2014 Sprint Du Champ, Nathan Hoffman (3rd), Brian Sames (5th) and Andy Wiberg (7th). Wiberg placed 10th in 2014.

And despite the absence of star Minnesota duathletes Elaine Nelson and Suzie Fox, our state's women claimed 2nd and 3rd overall. The silver medal went to 2013 US DOY and Nationals Chmp Jenn Scudiero. The Bronze was earned by a gimpy Diane Hankee, who earned a USAT DOY HM in 2014. It should be noted pro women Ruth Brennan Morrey of Rochester, and honorary Minnesotan Dani Fischer, had the 2nd and 3rd fastest times of the day, though their times and places were not not included in the overall results.

Other Minnesotans who rocked in the overall results were 40-44 champ Manuela Knispel, who could receive an MOY nomination at the end of the season if she keeps rockin' like she did here and at Apple. She placed 6th overall. Andrea Myers placed 9th, and Jasmine Carlson, who placed 14th last year, was 11th this time around.

Kevin O'Connor (photo R) won the Sprint Du national title by an 18-second margin over Iowan Mario Czarnowski. Eagan's Joe Johnson, racing in his first du of the year, rounded out the men's sprint podium. Nate Hoffman (6th) also cracked the overall Top 10.

Like Hoffman, Jenn Scudiero doubled-up. She took 4th in the women's sprint. Other impressive overall efforts by Minnesotans were turned in by Jennifer Fitzharris-Funk (11th), who'se rocking some new tattoos this year, and Shelley Tschida (12th), who has been coming on strong in the sport of duathlon over the last two seasons.

The following Minnesotans were crowned National Champions:

STANDARD DISTANCE: