Race Coverage

June 2 Race Capsules & Trinona Preview...

Wednesday, 05 June 2019 23:10

14th NEW BRI TRI - Living up to their favored status last Sunday at Long Lake Park were THAD INGERSOLL and reigning women's champ SARA RONDORF. It wasn't a runaway for Ingersoll, 49, as eventual runner-up TIM QUESNELL, 52, was able to almost match his splits throughout.

Thad's eventual margin of victory was 53 seconds.

On the other hand, Rondorf's win, the 5th of her career, was a runaway. Sara had 7:03 to recover before 2nd place was determined.

One hundred and 17 athletes finished this year's race. RESULTS

EAU CLAIRE SPRINT - The 10th edition of this event was well-attended (206 finishers) and, as usual, featured several high placing Minnesotans. For the sixth time, a Minnesota man came out on top. This time it was MICHAEL LEE, 27, of Minneapolis. Lee may be new to the sport of triathlon, as our research was unable to uncover past results.

In total, four Minnesota guys cracked the Top Seven, including two-time Eau Claire winner / Brewhouse Triathlon founder, ROD RAYMOND, 54 (photo), who placed 4th....

Also finishing in 4th place, albeit in the women's competition, was Shoreview's SHELLEY OSTRANDER, 33.  RESULTS

PIGMAN SPRINT TRIATHLON - Gaggles of Elite Minnesota triathletes have historically supported this iconic Iowa event. Not so this year, as PATRICK PARISH was our state's lone elite representative. Coming off two impressive duathlon efforts--1st at Standard Distance Duathlon Nationals, 2nd at Apple--Parish placed 5th at Pigman behind two pros (Jake Rhyner and Ian Hoover-Grinde) and emerging talents Vant Lammers (WI) and Andy Vasquez (NE).  RESULTS

TRINONA XI - While researching next Sunday's Trinona we came across an awesome article by Tobias Mann in the Winona Daily News about the value of volunteers. Here's a few paragraphs, and a link: 

Every June, hundreds of athletes from around the country descend on Winona for Trinona, billed by organizers as southern Minnesota’s destination triathlon.

But behind the 500-plus athletes swimming, biking and running their way to the finish line is an army of volunteers tasked with making it all possible.

According to Scott Sherman, who alongside his wife, Lindsey, owns the decade-old race, Trinona wouldn’t be possible if weren’t for the volunteers.

“Put simply: no volunteers, no Trinona,” he said....READ MORE

Now for some predictions. We are intensely interested in the showndown between elite juniors MACY IYER, 15 and ARIANNA WERTS, 18. Both were nominated for JOY last year, with Werts ultimately receiving the honor. Iyer has raced here in the past, placing 2nd in the sprint race in 2017. Will that, and being a year older, give her an edge in her battle with Werts? We think so.

Next, we think the battle for the top spot in the Olympic race will be between 2017 Trinona winner JEFF METTLER, competing for Iowa State University, and PATRICK PARISH. Though Patrick is making his Trinona debut, we still pick him to outrace the reigning champ. Why? Mettler and Parish faced each other last weekend at Pigman Sprint, and Patrick came out on top. (Patrick placed 5th--including pros, Jeff placed 7th.) His margin of victory at Pig was substantial: 1:43.

As for the predicting the women's Olympic winner, our clear favorite is Iowan REBECCA NAUGHTON, currently a scholar-athlete at Arizona State University. A former national champion and USAT Duathlete of the Year (like Parish), she is the real deal.

Between 550 and 600 participants are expected. We hope you'll be among them. TRINONA WEBSITE