Race Coverage

Magnificent Minnesotans...

Monday, 12 September 2016 05:10

IRONMAN WISCONSIN XV - In the 15-year history of the race, who is the most successful amateur triathlete at IMOO?

Some may want to say East Gull Lake's  MICHELLE ANDRES, a two-time overall amateur champ and former women's CR holder, words that can also be used to describe Wisconsin's Ami Hutchinson.

We'd argue that IMOO's most successful amateur is Long Lake's JAN GUENTHER.

Here's why: In the inaugural IMOO in 2002 she was 42. She won the overall amateur crown and set a masters record that still stands. Her time was 10:24:42, amazing on a course that is now legendary for its challenge and scenery...

In 2009 at the age of 50, Jan returned to Madison and, once again, won the amateur title and crushed the 50-54W's course best. Her time was 10:28:19, and yes, the AG mark still stands today.

Last Sunday, Jan returned to Ironman Wisconsin. At 57, she wasn't seeking an overall amateur title, but another AG crown, her third, which we believe would be unprecedented, was certainly possible. Heck, with Jan, the achievement of that goal seemed preordained.

IMOO's women's 55-59 course best was set in 2014 by a talented Ohio triathlete named Robyn Williams. Her time was 11:39:29. Until Sunday, she was the only member of her AG to have broken 12-hours.

Then Jan Guenther posted a time of 11:18:28, a divisional CR by 11:01. Additionally, her margin of victory over the 2nd-placing 55-59W was 14:02. Her record is like her others marks:  likely to stand for a long time to come.

Guenther was not the only MInnesotan who was a divisional medalist last Sunday. Here are the 11 others:

SARAH ZIRKLE  (Wyoming) - 1st 50-54W - 11:35:28

JEFFERY WARSHAW (Minneapolis) - 1st 55-59M - 10:43:12

CORY DAVIDSON (Jordan) - 1st 65-69M - 12:56:15

SUE RUBENS (Minneapolis) - 2nd 50-54W - 11:43:30

SHEENA DAUER (Montevideo) - 2nd 30-34 - 10:59:45 - 7th amateur!

BETH HASSLER (Andover) - 2nd 60-64W - 13:04:25

KELLY TROM (Minneapolis) - 3rd 25-29W - 10:56:52 - 6th amateur! (TOP PHOTO)

KRISTIN GUSTAFSON (Mankato) - 3rd 35-39W - 11:07:52

ANN SNUGGERUD (Chaska) - 3rd 45-49W - 11:23:30 (photo above R)

BEN NEMETH (Sartell) - 3rd 40-44M - 10:02:09

DAVE LUNDBERG (Cottage Grove) - 3rd 50-54M - 10:43:34 (photo L)

The MTN Guys congratulate ALL the athletes, with special love for the Minnesotans, that accepted the special challenge that is Ironman Wisconsin, which to us is the premier IM in the continental United States. RESULTS

FYI - The last triathlon on the 2016 Minnesota calendar is the appropriately named ONE LAST TRI. It is next Sunday--September 18--at Ramsey County Beach on the north shore of White Bear Lake. RACE WEBSITE