Race Coverage

Relentlessness & Bloody Marys....

Monday, 11 July 2016 05:10

TIMBERMAN TRIATHLON - There were several battles that we were looking forward to last weekend. At Minneapolis, defending champion Matthew Payne was facing Kris Spoth and a surging Sean Cooley. We were anxious to see how that race unfolded....

We were also anxious to see how Hanna Grinaker would fare against Gaby Bunten at Minneapolis.

At Timberman, we couldn't wait to see who would win the battle between Christina Roberts and three-time champ Suzie Fox. Fox had put her stamp on this race while Roberts was making her T-Man debut, still, just like there is "Something about Mary" (You've seen that movie, right?), there is "something" about Christina. That something is what it takes to win against the best competition.

We learned during the course of that gorgeous Saturday morning at Sugar Lake just what Christina's "something" is. Let's call it "relentlessness."

You see, Suzie was a no-show, opting instead to race in yet another prize money event in Iowa. (She's won two such races already this season.Unfortunately, that race--The Accel Triathlon--was cancelled due to totally yucky weather.) Yet, Christina raced as if Fox, and every other national level woman in our state, were in the field.

With no one to chase, and no one to push her, Roberts nevertheless kept the hammer down the whole way. The result was a Performance of the Year-worthy course record. Her time on the current  course, which has been in place since 2013, was a remarkable 2:09:18, exactly two minutes faster than the previous CR set by Fox in 2014. The win was the 11th of her career and second this season, and it certainly ranks among the best female performances in the 32-year history of the T-Man.

Christina's margin of victory over runner-up Andrea Myers, 40 (photo below) was 8:04. Andi's time (2:17:22), however, was a 40-44 record and her 2016 resume, wherein she has not finished out of the overall Top 5, will probably earn her a MOY nomination at the end of the season.

The women's top three was rounded out by Sarah Berger (2:19:33), who also podiumed here in 2015.

Just as we anticipated the head-to-head between Roberts and Fox, we were excited about ther matchup between four-time champ Brooks Grossinger and Most Improved frontrunner Wade Cruser. If there was any doubt as to whether Wade was ready to Bark with the Big Dogs, he disspelled it with his convincing win at Timberman. His time was 1:57:01, and his margin of victory over runner-up Josh Blankenheim, whose banshee-esque six mile run split (33:48) left all others in the dust, was 1:06. Brooksie rounded out the men's podium with a 1:59:26.

Also breaking two-hours (1:59:31) was another apparent shoo-in for a Most Improved nomination, Jordan Roby, who is Christina Roberts boyfriend, and who, like Christina, enjoys a Bloody Mary or two after a hard race. Unlike Christina, though, Jordan chases his BMs with draft beer.

Christina likes rodeos and she and Jordan went to one in a nearby town after the race. It's not clear whether Jordan pretended to have a good time, or actually had one? We suspect that with the aid of Bloody Marys and draft beer, Jordan enjoyed the aromatic festivities.

FYI, the following athletes lowered their AGs records: Hannah Bettandorf (00-19W), Andrea Myers (40-44W), Christel Kippenhan (50-54W) and Neil King (65-69M).

For the first time in seven years, Adam Himes did not win the Timberman Sprint. He settled, instead, for second behind Brian Bich, 50, who still races like a 35-year-old guy. Bich's time--56:42--was crazy fast, and his MOV over Himes was 2:53. Bich is now two-for-two in 2016. He was also the amateur champ at the Miami Man Half IM back in November. Because the performance took place after the MMAs were determined, it will be included on his '16 scorecard.

Lee Brown also managed to break 60 minutes (59:53).

For the last five years, the Top 2 spots in the women's sprint were owned by Tara Makinen and Jena Ogston. On paper, it looked like that scenario would play out again. Until one took a closer look at Bettina Kepper's results over the last two seasons, that is. Her trajectory during this period suggested that she just might be ready to win.

Bettina did just that last Saturday, and then some. Makinen (1:07:16) and Ogston (1:08:35) claimed 2nd and 3rd respectively, but both were well behind the new champ. Kepper's time was 1:04:57.

Timberman continues to be the favorite racing experience for hundreds of athletes, including venerated 92-year-old Bob Powers (photo above L). It is lovingly produced and it's location--Minnesota's most scenic venue--cannot be beat. RESULTS

ED. Andi and Bob are pictured with race co-director Amy Dettmer, who is awesome.