Race Coverage

Special in Every Way...

Monday, 20 June 2016 00:10

LAKE MINNETONKA TRIATHON - Pre-race favorites Brooks Grossinger and Christina Roberts won the 14th edition of this annual classic event last Saturday. Brooks, who has now won this event an unmatched five times, didn't take control until early in the run. Roberts, on the other hand, led from the outset, claiming the swim and run premes in the process. 

Brooks now has at least 27 multisport wins to his credit. For Roberts, it was her milestone 10th career win, and her performance last weekend totally suggests that she will win several more times this season. Her clocking - 1:10:53--was the fourth fastest women's time in race history. Only Heather Lendway (2014, 2013)and Cathy Yndestad (2012) have gone faster.

Roberts now owns two of the event''s five fastest women's times. 

For two-time (2011, 2012) LMT winner Steve Sander the return to pre-injury form has been an uphill multi-year battle, thus his 2nd place finish last weekend signals the turning of a corner, and Steve couldn't be happier. We're happy for him....

The final men's podium spot was well-earned by Jordan Roby (photo above), who entered T2 in 5th place and nearly ran his way all the way to 2nd. In the end only 15 seconds separated Sander from his fellow podium-mate.

Jordan is Christina's boyfriend, you know.

As expecetd, Lisa Lendway, whose new boyfriend is a really nice guy, and who like Roberts, came into the race with nine career wins, finished in 2nd place for the women. Liv Williamsen grabbed the women's bronze medal, a feat she had also accomplished in 2013 and 2012.

The event was well-attended (500+ entrants, 449 finishers) and was contested in cloudy and mild conditions. Two divisional records fell, the first by talented teen Kristina Swenson (photo R), who lowered Sheala Mullaney's 10-year-old junior CR from 1:20:35 to 1:17:39, a time which landed her in 7th place overall.

The second record was set by Connie Foster, who took the 65-69W mark down from 2:19:48 to 1:45:57.

Once again, Ross, Tina and their committee poured their hearts into the event, and it showed. And the community support was incredible.  The LMT is a truly special event, one of the  best anywhere. RESULTS