Race Coverage

Last Weekend's Performance Highlights...

Friday, 27 January 2023 00:10

As promised, here are some of the outstanding performances by Minnesota athletes in out-of-state races last weekend, starting with the Door Country 70.3 and Sprint:

- DOOR COUNTY 70.3 - On the heels of her big wins at Buffalo Olympic (amateur race) and Lake Minnetonka MAGGIE SWANSON placed 2nd at DT. Her time--4:46:46--was only 1:39 behind the women's  winner, long distance veteran Jess Barrett of Verona. Maggie's clocking was also faster--by 52-seconds--than her 2021 time, when she placed 4th. Swanson's versatility in 2022, wherein she won at Olympic and Sprint distances, then excelling on a long course, puts her squarely in the Triathlete of the Year discussion.

KRIS SPOTH finished 5th in the men's race, clocking a 4:18:08. ANTHONY JAGIELO took 10th in 4:29:35.

- DOOR COUNTY SPRINT - Several Minnesotan turned in fine efforts at the DC Sprint, on the eve of the 70.3. Gopher star QUINN KNEELAND won the men's race in a field of 1059 finishers. NATHAN WAECH and PATRICK CARROLL also cracked the Top 10.  Leading the way for Minnesota women was CATHERINE LEE, whose 3rd place  finish was one place better than her 2021 showing, and her time was 1:09 faster. Also cracking the women's Top 10 was 2021 Chisago Sprint winner DEANA JAGIELO, who finished 7th....

- GREEN LAKE OLYMPIC - Yes there is more than  one Green Lake Tri, this one in Wisconsin. Winning for the women was CARYN HERRICK, whose impressive 2:10:49 gave her 6:44 to chill before her gender's runner-up became official. The victory was the third  of her young career. Her fiance PETER WIKMAN also enjoyed an excellent performance, placing 2nd in 2:02:34 (a PR) less than a minute behind the men's winner.

(Caryn and Peter are featured in the top photo, which is too dang cute to look at for more than a second-or-two.)

- LEGACY SPRINT TRIATHLON - Once again, the Buenting family rocked at this prestigious Southern California race. Two-time Minnesota Junior of the Year - and poised to do that again in 2022--BELLA BUENTING, 19, finished 5th in the women's competition, and 1st in her AG, matching her 2021 placement.  Daddy MIKE won his 45-49M category and cracked the overall Top 15. An insatiable racer, Legacy was his 5th tri start thus far in 2022.

- OKOBOJI SPRINT - After collecting her 6th victory at Fairmont Sprint, STEPHANIE PETERSON then headed to the Okoboji Sprint in Arnolds Park, Iowa. She placed 3rd in the women's race and was top master.