Race Coverage

Andy & Simone....

Saturday, 29 September 2018 23:20

Photo of Michael Tate courtesy of Paul Johnson Media.

13th FALL CLASSIC DUATHLON - It was a very chilly morning and all of the duathlon's 141 eventual finishers were dressed accordingly, all except MICHAEL TATE, that is. Clad in just his basic tri kit, Tate, who rocks a cool David Lee Roth, circa 1984 do, said after the race that he wilts in hot weather, and thrives when the conditions were like they were on Saturday, i.e. cloudy with dank temps in the mid-30s.

Michael wasn't lying. He would finish in 4th place.

The guys that would finish in front of Tate were pre-race favorite ANDY WIBERG, who would collect his 9th career multisport victory, and his second of the 2018 season in four starts, 2017 Fall Classic winner JUSTIN JONES, a former collegiate triathlete (ISU), whose time was almost a minute faster on Saturday than it was last year, and 2018 Rookie of the Year nominee THOMAS DATWYLER. ...

Also on the starting line was DIANE HANKEE, a two-time winner of the Oakdale Du, which utilizes the same course, and SHELLEY OSTRANDER, a top five finisher at Oakdale and this race in the past. Before the race began, Diane explained that she and Shelley were just there to have fun and support the race, which is pretty cool, right? Her larger purpose, though, was to team with her friend, who was returning to multisport racing after back surgery.

So, a woman's frontrunner was not obvious when Judi completed the starting countdown. But shortly thereafter a favorite revealed herself. We did not recognize sixteen-year-old SIMONE LUNDQUIST (photo R) before the race. Like everyone but Tate, she was dressed for the cold weather, i.e. tights, gloves, headwear.

When she started running, however, we knew who she was. Her form and tenacity are well known to us, plus she sprinted to the front of the women's field, where she stayed until T1. 

If she were to prevail, the win would be her second of the season. Though her early lead was substantial, we did not expect her to retain her position on the bike. Two female relay cyclists, plus eventual podium finishers AMY STEVENS, 42, of New Richmond, Wisconsin, and Twin Citizen NIKKI SUDBERRY, 37, who would throw down a final time that was two minutes better than her Oakdale clocking, entered T2 before the talented teenager.

Was being two minutes back a gap that was too wide for Simone to close? No way. As she sped out of transition, it was clear what her mission was. She was running faster than she had in the opening phase. Almost 30-seconds per mile faster. Only three men would turn in faster splits.

Lundquist, who will race in her first draft-legal event in Sarasota, Florida, next weekend, had 1:36 to recover before Stevens made her runner-up status official.

It was a great race in spite of the chill. Kudos to the TriFitness Events folks for putting on so many fine multis this season. - RESULTS