Race Coverage

Cooley's Conquest....

Tuesday, 01 August 2017 09:10

CHISAGO LAKES HALF - Despite wetsuitless water (80.3 degrees) and mounting heat, which eventually reached the mid-80s, there were plenty of fast times and personal bests at the 12th edition of this annual classic.

Leading the way for the guys was SEAN COOLEY, whose Every Man Jack tri suit should have been baggy in the back after he biked his buns off (2:09), riding four-plus minutes faster than the next fastest cyclist.

Some wondered if he had left it all on the bike course, but he then posted one of the fastest run splits of the day. The result was a 4:06:52, his second fastest 70.3 effort ever. The win was his 17th since he started racing on MInnesota soil, and five of those Ws have been half IMs.

Pro DANIEL BRETSCHER came in as the favorite, but had to settle for 2nd in 4:10:27. Though not one to complain, Daniel has a new infant at home--Noah James (he's gorgeous!)--and training and sleep have been severely limited of late. Family first, Bretscher left to be with his family shortly after he crossed the finish line.

He's a classy guy.

Arguably the performance of the day for the men was turned in by third placer JOE ADRIAENS (photo L), whose wetsuitless 4:13:26 was a sixteen-plus minute PR. He looked strong throughout the entire race. Joe will likely receive serious consideration for a Most Improved nomination....

Other super impressive PRs by men in the Top 10 were set by JAKE CROTEAU (5th overall - 4:24:15 - Prior best: 4:35:14) and ANDY ZABEL (8th overall - 4:26:40 - Prior best: 4:38:50). We also suspect that AARON WILSON's 9th place 4:28:34 was a PR.

One man managed to lower an AG record. It was DAVID LYON, 55, who knocked a couple of minutes off MIKE COLAIZY's long standing (2008!) mark. Lyon, aka "Hercules," now holds two AG records at Chisago (50-54M, 55-59M).

Denver's MOLLY SMITH left T2 with a look of fierce determination on her face. She was two minutes behind KORTNEY HAAG, our state's most decorated 70.3 racer (eight career half IM wins!), but watching Smith stride down the first hill, then circle the park's playground, it was obvious that she was destined to post the fastest women's run split of the day. 

When Smith, who was discussed in 2016 for USAT AOY HM, largely because of her prowess at 70.3, caught Haag, Kort had no answer. "The wheels fell off," she told us afterward, though she still managed to claim 2nd in a very "wheels-on" 4:39:50.

Smith, however, crossed more than four mintes earlier, her offical time was 4:35:40.

The four of the next five spots went to former Chisago winners, starting with KELLY TROM, the bronze medalist in a PR-4:40:58. She was followed by DIANE HANKEE (4:47:29) and ERIN FARRENS (4:48:13). After SARA CARLSON claimed sixth in 4:55:44, 47-year-old MARNIE WALTH, 2009 amateur champ, crossed the finish line (4:59:20).

As with the men, one female AG record was re-set. MAGGIE HAALAND of Ames, IA, knocked a half hour off the 65-69W mark. Her time was 6:31:43.

Great day. great race. RESULTS