Race Coverage

Bobby & Matt Are National Champions!

Saturday, 25 September 2010 15:08

Race Coverage - Two Minnesotans were crowned National Champions this morning at the USAT Nationals in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Matthew Payne (photo) won the 30-34M division and placed 13th overall. Bob Powers, 86, won the 85+ category. Eight of our state's 15 finishers landed automatic Team USA invitations for next year's ITU World Championships in Beijing, China. Several others should receive passdown invites. Minnesota and California were the only state's that placed three athletes in the men's Top 25.

Winning the overall crowns were Indiana's Kaleb VanOrt, who also won Du Nationals this season, and Floridian Mandy McLane, who finished 2nd in the polling behind Apple Valley's Cathy Yndestad for USAT Athlete of the Year in 2009. Finishing 2nd for the women was former Minnesotan Cindi Bannink, now of Madison., Wisconsin.

11. Patrick Parish, 25, Circle Pines - 4th 25-29M (Team USA)

13. Matthew Payne, 33, Columbia Heights - 1st 30-34M (Team USA)...