Race Coverage

Iron Chicks VII...

Tuesday, 27 September 2011 03:00

(Facebook Photo - This cool shot of IG-B bronze medalist Patti Schmid-Iverson was taken at Ironman Wisconsin in 2010. It's kinda blurry 'cuz she was riding so fast.)

Race Coverage - The Duathlete of the Year nominees will be announced later this week. And there is no way that Suzie Finger's name will not be on that list.

Her 2011 du resume has been stellar. She kicked off the season with a 3rd at Gear West behind Michelle Andres and Claire Bootsma, both of whom appear doomed to receive multiple award nominations. She followed that up with a big win at Apple, Minnesota's oldest and most revered run-bike-run. Then the "Real Housewives of Orange County" and Britney-loving athlete who has like a hundred dogs, placed 2nd at Turtleman....

Needing only three "elite" efforts to garner a DOY nomination, Suzie has been a shoo-in for such since mid-August.

On Sunday, however, Finger, who believes wholeheartedly that her dear friend Heidi Keller-Miler should let her hair grown long, held off a hard-charging Tina Hjeltman to win the 7th annual Iron Girl-Bloomington, America's largest women's only duathlon.

Now she's a double shoo-in!

Suzie's ultimate margin of victory was 15 seconds. Tina, whose last name is pronounced "Yelt-men," placed 3rd here in 2010 and may, like Finger, receive a 2011 DOY nomination. Hjeltman's resume features a win at Turtleman and a 3rd at Apple, to go with her 2nd at IG-B.

Finishing 3rd on Sunday was two-time Leadville 100 Belt Buckle-ist, Patt Schmidt-Iverson (photo above). Schmidt-Iverson's limited 2011 multisport scorecard features a 2nd place finish at Lake Marion Sprint.

A record 1105 women crossed the finish line at Normandale Lake Park. How totally cool is that! RESULTS