Race Coverage
Cute Couples & Fast Masters....
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Sunday, 09 July 2017 09:10
Photo - T-Man winners / totally cute couple Jordan Roby and Christina Roberts.
TIMBERMAN XXX - On the eve of Minnesota's Premier Destination Triathlon, four-time Timberman Sprint champ TARA MAKINEN commented on the quality of the women's field that she was about to face. In effect, she said she could have her best performance ever and not finish any higher than 8th. As one who thrives on competition and self-improvement, she added that she would be totally happy with that result.
It was true. The T-Man Sprint's women's field was arguably it's deepest in the three-plus decades that the race has been in existence. In the end, though, Makinen did not finish 8th. She placed 7th, and her time was 1:06:35, making her one of an unprecedented nine women to crack 1:10.
Leading the way for the second straight year was BETTINA KEPPERS, whose winning time was 1:04:58, a mere one second off her 2016 course record. Her margin of victory over runner-up and two time sprint winner, JODY QUESNELL, was 45 seconds. Racing as a USAT 50-year-old, Jody's time was a divisional CR.
Finishing less than one-tenth of a second behind Quesnell was Canadian athlete (and total sweetheart!) KAYLA KJELLMAN. She's a nurse in Thunder Bay and has a new boyfriend.
Also rocking a divisional record was former JOY nominee, KAYTLIN GARRISON, 19. She placed 4th overall in 1:06:05. This was her third consecutive junior title at T-Man Sprint.
The men's sprint was won for the seventh time in the last eight years by ADAM HIMES, a decordated nordic skier who does one tri a tyear. This one. Happy with his sub- 1 hour (58:36) victory, Adam was actually more pleased with the performance turned-in by his 17-year-old son, SAM, who was making his tri debut. Sam finished 6th overall (2nd junior) in 1:02:21.
Also making the podium was JOSHUA KEMP, 18, whose placed in the Top 5 here in each of the last three years, and 2017 Minnesota Junior of the Year MITCHELL CLAYTON, 20....
Early in the International distance race it appeared that WADE CRUSER and CHRISTINA ROBERTS would repeat as champs. It also looked like last year's bronze medalist JORDAN ROBY, Roberts' best guy, was destined for a silver medal this time around.
Then, for the second time this season, Cruser flatted, resulting in a heartbreaking DNF. Wade's win here in 2016, more than any other race, launched his career and led to a Most Improved award and a Top 3 spot on Team MInnesota.
Roby seized his opportunity and kept the hammer down the rest of the way. The sub-2-hour win was the third of his career, and his margin of victory over three-time T-Man winner BROOKS GROSSINGER was 1:53. Brooks, now 40, demolished the masters record, taking it down from 2:05:27 to 2:01:43.
And speaking of masters, 40-plussers claimed seven of the Top 10 spots, with CHRIS TATTON, Canadian KRIS NISULA, DAVID LEWIS and SCOTT MYERS taking 3rd through 6th places.
Roberts did repeat as women's champ, the victory being the 14th of her tri career. On paper, her time of 2:12:36 appeared to be well off the 2:09:18 course record effort she posted in 2016. In truth, the swim was long, more in the 1500-1600m range than the event's standard 1300m distance. Roberts time, therefore, represented an effort that matched, perhaps even exceeded, her course best.
Once again ANDREA MYERS, 41, who seems to be on track for another MOY nomination, placed 2nd. Her 2:17:58 was only 36 seconds off the Masters CR she set in 2016, which suggests that had last year's swim course been used, she would have popped a 2:14-and-change.
Finishing 3rd for the women was 2016 Square Lake winner TIFFANY KARI, who likes to drink Belgium-style beer before races.
As with the men, masters women totally rocked out. Five 40-and-abovers cracked the Top 10, including PAM STEVENS, 64, who placed 10th in a divisional record 2:40:30. She was pushed hard by HELEN GUNTHER, 60, who finished 24 seconds after Pam, and who also bettered the previous AG record.
Despite the extra swimming, five athletes managed to reset course records:
- 0019W - HANNAH BETTANDORF - 2:22:56 (Old Mark - 2:25:06 - also set by Bettandorf) - FYI - Hannah will travel to Africa soon to do humanitarian stuff!
- 4044M - BROOKS GRSSINGER - 2:01:43 (Old Mark - 2:05:27)
- 6064W - PAM STEVENS - 2:40:20 (Old Mark - 2:41:39)
- 65-69M - TWYLA ANDERSON - 3:12:26 (No previous record)
- 7074M - TOM ADAMS - 3:03:24 (No previous record) - FYI - Tom hadn't done a tri in a decade but decided to do one to celebrate his 70th birthday at T-Man.
MTN thanks and congratulates AMY and ALAN DETTMER (photo L), and their crew, for putting on a truly extraordinary event.
Photo - Canadian friends / award winners (L-R) - Kris Nisula, Phil Brown and Bob Shine.
