Race Coverage

Cruser Crushes at Cinco....

Sunday, 07 May 2017 05:00

CINCO DU MAYO - WADE CRUSER kicked off his 2017 multisport season with a race record victory at Cinco Long Course. His 1:20:48 over the hilly 3-20-3 route lowered SAM JANICKI's 2011 CR by an impressive 1:02.

For Cruser, winner of the Most Improved award in 2016, the W was the 7th of his career. He was pushed on Saturday by 2013 and 2015 Cinco champ BRIAN SAMES, who after spending 2016 in the Chicago area, appears to have returned to Minnesota. We hope the three-time Team Minnesota member is back to stay.

ANDY ZABEL, CHRIS TATTON and JUSTIN CUMMINS rounded out the formidable men's Top 5.

Due to some scoring questions, we are unable to comment on the women's long course race.

In the short course race, STEVE STENZEL not only picked up his third win here, he did so in his fastest time yet. He covered the 2-10-2...

courses in 52:47, slightly more than a minute better than his previous PR. More importantly, though, his time was only three seconds off ERICH HENEKE's race best, set in 2012.

Taking silver in his second consecutive podium finish here was the Brit from Sauk Rapids, ROB MADGWICK, 52. It's been a great weekend for Sauk Rapidsians, as AMY WOOLSEY (COLT) and CRUSER won races, and LARRY STRACKE, 60 (COLT), and MADGE totally rocked socks in the AGs.

Multisport newcomer JOE BELL placed 3rd overall for the men in the short course race.

And speaking of newcomers, decorated runner CARRIE HINNERS (top photo) kicked off her multisport career with a win at Cinco, and it was a speedy one at that. Managing to crack the one hour mark (by 11 seconds), Carrie has performed well enough to place herself on our Rookie of the Year radar.

To secure her victory, Carrie had  to chase down KATHERINE JOHNSON. In the end, Hinners' margin was only ten seconds.

TORI NUGENT filled out the women's podium.

We think that Tori is an Illinois transplant, that she knows BRIAN SAMES personally, and is into Mumford and Sons (Who isn't?) and has been to San Diego recently, where she placed 4th overall at Superseal Sprint.

One hundred and twenty-one athletes crossed the finish line. RESULTS