Race Coverage

Records Tumble at Sturges Park...

Wednesday, 14 December 2022 00:10

Photo - Fun bringers at Buffalo, including Darin, Lang and Jordan who nuked the men's relay record. Also: Mary, Jeff, Eric, Betsy Nine Toes and another guy.

16th BUFFALO OLYMPIC TRIATHLON - Subtracting 25-degrees and 30 miles-per-hour gusts, conditions plaguing last years race, made a huge difference at yesterday's race. Last year's windy inferno kept a talented field of men from cracking the 2-hour mark, and a strong women's field from breaking 2:20. On Sunday, when conditions were perfect (temps in low 60s, negligible wind), four men broke two hours, the first of whom doing so by more that 6-minutes, and four women needed less than 1:40 minutes to go the distance. These stats have been matched at a few prior editions of this race, but never exceeded...

Leading the way for the men was third-year pro TED TREISE, who didn't truly assert his dominance until the run. He had claimed publically that he was gunning for the long-standing course record, MATT PAYNE's 1:54:15, which would require three great splits (and brisk transitions) to make it happen. He made it happen. When the proverbial  dust cleared, the finish line clock read 1:53:40.

Ted had plenty of time to hug friends and family members before runner-up AJ MANNING came charging down the final hill en route to a 1:59:05, an almost ten minute improvement on his 2021 time. Before the race, Treise predicted that his friend from Fargo would podium. Two correct predictions so far.

Manning did not overtake eventual bronze medalist PRESTON YOUNGDAHL, a Louisiana transplant with a stellar competitive resume, until the final quarter mile or so. Only six seconds eventually separated these fast guys.

The final sub-2 finisher was last year's Buffalo Olympic winner / 2021 Minnesota Triathlete of the Year DAVID KOPPEL, who like Manning and Treise closed with a 35-minute run split. David's time was 1:59:37.

Coming close to breaking the 2-hour mark was 2021 US Junior of the Year / two-time Minnesota Junior of the Year KYLE SWENSON, now 20, who turned in a 2:00:42.

Ted Treise said that his wife, DANI, who turned pro mid-season in 2021, would dominate the women's race. She did just that, her eventual margin of victory very similar to her husband's. Her time was 2:08:21, the 2nd fastest woman's time ever on this course. Taking control of the race early in the big leg, it was Dani's sub-40-minute run split over the challenging 10K route that truly sealed the deal.

As a new pro it is important to beat the best amateurs, and Dani outraced several of our region's top women, starting with MAGGIE SWANSON (2:14:19), who has podiumed in 8 of the 11 races, including a huge win at Capitol View in Madison in 2018, in her career.

National-class master BECKY YOUNGBERG, 47, whose resume boasts at least 45 multisport victories, placed 3rd in 2:17:05, a 45-49W course record.

The final sub-2:20 was turned in by VANESSA NAGEL, who posted a 2:18:18.

Youngberg was not the only Age Group athlete to rewrite a record on Sunday. Here are the others:

- 45-49M - YAROSLAV PREVENTSEV - 2:06:52 (Prior AGR - 2:07:03 - 2015)

- 50-54W - JENNIFER MARTONE - 2:31:36 (Prior AGR - 2:43:07 - 2015)

- 55-59W - AMY WOOLSEY - 2:44:27 (Prior AGR  - 2:49:19 - 2016)

- 60-64W - JAN GUENTHER - 2:32:46! (Prior AGR - 3:07:22)

- 65-69 - PAM STEVENS - 2:56:01 (No Prior AGR)  - COMPLETE RESULTS

ED. Buffalo Sprint coverage will post on Wednesday afternoon.