Race Coverage

Seven Records Fall at Lakes Country...

Sunday, 29 August 2021 00:10

21st LAKES COUNTRY TRIATHLON - Seven age group records were rewritten this morning at Whipple Lake in Baxter, and the overall favorites did what they were expected to do.

Most of the AG records fell hard. Let's start with the women's 55-59 division, where half of the overall Top six women were from that category. Leading the way was AMY WOOLSEY, 56, whose 1:12:21 was bettered by only two younger women. She was followed to the finish line by 2020 Grand Master of the Year, LISA HINES, 58, AG winner here in 2019 and 2018, by 42-seconds. Placing 6th overall was former AG-record holder MARY DEEG, 59, whose 1:14:15 was only three seconds off her 2017 CR.

The 55-59-year-old women's category is arguably the most competitive of the women's AGs this season. Not only are Woolsey, Hines and Deeg posting super results, their division also boasts the participation of national-classers (in alpha order) CHRISTEL KIPPENHAN, 56, TRACY SERREYN, 57, JULIA WEISBECKER, 55, CHERYL ZITUR, 56. ...

Men's AG records were shattered by JASON CRISP (40-44), who placed 2nd overall in 1:01:37, ROD RAYMOND (55-59), who placed 5th in 1:06:38, and JEFF GILMER (60-64), who popped a 1:10:28, good for 12th overall.

Joining Woolsey in the record-setting column for the women was overall runner-uo CARRIE VAN QUATHEM (45-49) of Urbandale, Iowa, who threw down an impressive 2:11 at Tri Clear Lake Olympic (3rd overall woman) earlier this season, PAM STEVENS (65-69), who rocked a 1:19:14, good  for 8th overall in the women's race, and NANCY BAUER (70-74).

We mentioned that the pre-race favorites prevailed. DAVID KOPPEL was impressive as always, turning in a 57:36, which fits snugly between WADE CRUSER's 2018 course record 56:55 and JOSH BLANKENHEIM's victorious 57:49 in 2019. Koppel is now 5-for-5 in regional triathlon racing this year.

For the women, JACQUI BACIGALUPI completed a three-peat at Lakes Country. Von Quathem outgunned her in the water and afoot, by Bacigalupi made it up, and a little more, on the bike. Her time was 1:09:25, giving her a 20-second margin of victory over the talented Iowan.

One hundred and forty-nine athletes crossed this year's finish line.  RESULTS