Race Coverage

"You Just Can't Make This Stuff Up"....

Thursday, 23 September 2021 00:10

By David Leard

You’re probably not going to read too many IMOO Race Reports that start off: It was lunchtime on a Thursday in July 2017, and I took a walk down to Dinky Town just to get out of the office….

I stopped into a bike shop there and discovered they had the exact Continental tires I was looking to buy for my race wheels. Later that afternoon my boss saw the tires sitting on my desk and said “Hey, I have an idea. Let’s all bring our bikes in tomorrow and go for a ride in the morning.” I agreed. He had just bought himself a new bike and was wanting to show it off to everyone.

The next morning, about a mile from our office in the Armory Building at the U of M Campus, riding along the East River Parkway and about to stop at the Franklin Ave intersection, I downshifted, and my rear derailleur swung in and clipped a spoke (I must have bumped it out of alignment bringing it in that morning). Going from 15 to 0 in nothing flat is not an experience I’d wish on anyone.

I rolled through it and bounced right back up to my feet. Playing football growing up and Airborne School in the Army have at least taught me how to hit the ground successfully. After checking that my shoulder wasn’t broken, and while waiting for my bike to stop bouncing, I told myself “That was too close. You need to sign up for another Ironman ASAP.” ...

Another W For Hawkins...

Tuesday, 21 September 2021 00:10

ONE LAST TRI - Just 23 seconds separated the women's podium finishers last Sunday at the 15th One Last Tri Sprint Triathlon. Eventual winner BIRTE FRETWELL, a strong runner who moved to the Twin Cities in 2020, outran the competition after losing ground in the first two legs. Our research revealed that the multiligual, well-traveled cat-loving Fretwell (photo) has only done a handful of tris.

Second place 12-seconds behind Fretwell was SHELLEY TSCHIDA, pronounced "Cheetah," whose last multisport races were in 2015. Finishing 11-seconds after Shelley was SARAH BERSETH, who had also placed 3rd the previous weekend at Square Lake 70.3.

Leading the way in this 116 finisher race was UM's QUINTON KNEELAND, who was coming off a fine performance at Maple Grove Olympic (4th place - 1:59:22) He finished 3:59 in front of UM runner-up JOHN BOASE, a UM teammate....

Egg Baskets & Energy Immersion...

Sunday, 19 September 2021 00:10

By Jessie Stevens

Oh that Madison Magic!

I registered for this race in 2019 after competing in IMWI and earning my second KQ. It was to be my first tri of the 2020 season and a great set up for a year that would end on the Big Island, but we all know that’s not how things went down....

Tim, Diane, Nick & Kort....

Saturday, 18 September 2021 00:10

SQUARE LAKE TRIATHLONS - The 2020 male Performance of the Year was DAVID THOMPSON's 1:15:17 at Square Lake Sprint.That performance lowered the men's course record by 5:01. With 110+ career multisport victories, DKT is clearly Minnesota's all-time most talented and successful male triathlete.

Last Sunday, TIM BONTRAGER came dang close to matching Thompson's mark. He raced unchallenged from splash to banner, crossing in 1:15:50. Coming within a minute of a DKT performance is a Big Deal.

The win was Tim's 5th in seven starts this season.

Tim came into the race as the man to beat, and DIANE HANKEE had the same target on her back in the women's race. Like Tim, she won, though not quite as handily. Tim's margin of victory was 10:48, Diane's was 2:06, her 1:30:29 bettered only by her own 1:28:25, set in 2018. The win was the 41st of her multisport career.

Kona-bound JEN MARTONE (1:33:41) and plaid-wearing STEVE STENZEL (1:26:38), a podium finisher in four of his last seven multisport starts, were the event's silver medalists, with DILLON WILLIAMS (1:27:43) and GRACE WILSON (1:36:28) claiming the bronzes.

"When The Going Gets Tough....."

Thursday, 16 September 2021 00:10

IRONMAN 70.3 WISCONSIN - As in the full Ironmant, Minnesota triathletes excelled in the 70.3. Despite inhospitable conditions, two men cracked their gender's overall Top 10, only to be outdone by our state's women, who earned half of their gender's overall Top 10 spots. Additionally, five Minnesotans podiumed, Olympic style, in their respective Age Groups. We are listing those athletes below, but they are not the only MInnesotans that rocked out that the 70.3. We encourage everyone to click on the "FULL RESULTS" link below to check out all the Minnesota times and placings.

Note that two of the athletes listed here--AJ MANNING and NICOLE HEININGER--are what we consider "Honorary Minnesotans." AJ lives in Fargo and races more often than not on our side of the Red River. He was named Minnesota's "Most Improved" athlete in 2020 and will likely be nominated for 2021 honors, as well as a spot on Team Minnesota. Nicole lived in Minnesota until recently when a job opportunity relocated her to Madison, Wisconsin. She was our state's Rookie of the Year in 2013 and has been nominated for numerous MMH awards.

Going the Distance...

Tuesday, 14 September 2021 00:10

2021 IRONMAN WISCONSIN - Minnesota triathletes excelled at last weekend's IMOO. Two men and two women rocked Top 10 overall finishes and 11 placed in the Top 3 in their resective age groups, including two divisional winners. Understand that those listed here are not the only Minnesotans who turned in impressive performances. A results link will follow that will allow you to get a more complete picture of how well our state's men and women did. For now, however, here are the overall Top 10ers and the AG podium finishers:

MINNESOTA MEN IN THE TOP 10 -

4th - KRISTOPHER SPOTH (St. Paul) - 9:32:14

10th - JAKE KEEHAN (Maple Grove) - 9:50:02

MINNESOTA WOMEN IN THE TOP 10:

5th - CARYN HERRICK (St. Louis Park) - 10:48:39

9th - MAGGIE SWANSON (Excelsor) - 11:06:53 -