Race Coverage

Minnesota's Outdoor Season Opener Was a Goodie!

Monday, 02 June 2025 00:10

2025 Buffalo Triathlon Coverage - Alexandria-based triathletes have been rocking out for the last few seasons, Spencer Syvertson, Corey Nygaard and Kadie Hokanson especially. Then there's Brian Storhaug, who has managed to win a tri or two every year since 2017.

Spencer, Corey and Brian were chatting before Sunday's Buffalo Tri (Kadie was busy marathoning in Fargo) about the emergence of talent from their little city.  They mentioned a new name, Kelly Emmerich, saying she's someone to keep an eye on.

They were right. While the aforementioned Alexandria stars were setting the pace in their respective Olympic and Sprint events on Sunday, Kelly was quietly keeping the predicted women's Olympic race leaders in sight. She cranked out solid splits in all three phases and held on to 3rd place behind besties/training partners Katie Deregnier, winner of two races in 2024, and perennial podium finisher Kristen Hawkins. We were also impressived with the fact that she finished ahead of Amy Preusser (4th place) who had already won two tris this spring...

This year's courses were changed and most would concur that they were improved. They resembled routes that were used in the event's formative years. Some clockwise stuff was reversed, some hills were avoided, swim course navigation was improved and athletes finished from north to south, not the other way around.

Syvertson, nominated for Triathlete of the Year, Performance of the Year (Brewhouse Olympic CR) and Most Improved in 2024, lived up to his favored status, thanks largely to his improved cycling (26 mph). He made it look easy. He had six minutes to chill before his closest rival, late registrant John Bodeau crossed the line. Two of those minutes were a function of John launching in the a later wave, thus the final core was Syvertson 2:01:04, Bodeau 2:05:05.

Rounding out the men's podium was Superior, Wisconsin's Richard Vanden Branden (2:06:22), who impressed us with his 3rd place finish (1:56:57) behind Syvertson and Josh Blankenheim at Brewhouse Olympic last year.

On paper Corey Nygaard and Cami Eckhoff were the clear favorites to win Buffalo's highly competitive Sprint triathlon. Both of those athletes crushed their performances, yet only one of them landed on the podium's top step. Why? Because Minnesota's all-time most successful male triathlete, a guy who has acquired "Legend" status since his retirement from pro racing, David Thompson, now 47, signed up on race morning.

Corey started in the second sprint wave, DKT in the third. Overtaking all of the first and second wavers on the bike, Corey appeared. to be in charge, the timer Brad Pickle noted that a guy named Thompson was throwning down slightly faster splits. Nail-biting began when Corey crossed the line. If a later wave starter requireded more than two minutes to finish, Nygaard would take the W. One minute and fifty-seven seconds later, David Thompson sped across the final timing mat and claimed a three second margin of victory (1:0010 to 1:00:13). Super exciting stuff! Certainly Corey can't complain about a three second loss to a Legend.

Unsurprisingly, Brian Storhaug held on for 3rd place (1:02:08). Thad Ingersoll, 55, placed 4th overall in an amazing 1:03:01, which was arguably the men's sprint AG performance of the day.

Cami Eckhoff's women's Sprint win was predicted. It was her time--1:04:16--that was jaw-dropping. It rivaled the best clockings of yesteryear when the sport was at his peak and the competition level was off the charts.

As unsurprising as Cami's win was Cheryl Zitur's 2nd place finish. Cheryl, now 60, had won this race four times, most recently in 2021, and had finished 2nd in 2023 and 2022. 

Decorated triathletes Bette Rowley and Andrea Myers took the next two places. Tri newcomer, Erin Rock, who was impressive at Brewhouse Sprint last year, claimed the #5 spot, proving she can, as they say, hold her own (especially on the bike!) against our state's credentialed triathletes. Keep racing tris Erin. There could be a Rookie of the Year nomination in it for you at the end of the season.

We'll also mention 17-year-old Raychel Tong (photo with Cheryl) who placed 6th. We've been watching her for two years and believe that this is the year she nails down a Junior of the Year nomination.

The Buffalo crew did a terrific job of executing this twenty-year-old race. The weather was accommodating, as was the water temp (67 degrees). Minnesota's outdoor triathlon season opener, which hosted 348 triathlete, was an event our tri community can be truly proud of.  RESULTS