Race Coverage

"..Sometimes racing is About Adapting"...

Thursday, 30 July 2026 00:10

By Nick Jasmer

Timberman Olympic Triathlon Race Report - Race weekends don’t always go according to plan. 

On Thursday, I came down with the same stomach bug that had already worked its way through our house. I tried everything I could to avoid it, but unfortunately it caught me faster than I can swim, bike, or run.

Thankfully, by Saturday morning I felt well enough to race. Not 100%, but ready to give it everything I had.

I was hoping for a faster overall time, but the heat became a factor early and really took over on the run. The goal quickly shifted to racing smart, managing what I could, and getting to the finish line as fast as possible.

SWIM- 28:01 - Not my best swim, but still a solid one. I started near the front hoping to find fast feet. I found some early, but couldn’t hold on as long as I wanted and ended up swimming alone for much of the race. Still, I came out in a decent position and was happy with it.

BIKE- 1:07:34 - I love this course. It has solid climbs, fast flats, and quick downhills. I felt strong, settled into a good rhythm, and was able to catch several athletes who had outswum me.

RUN: 41:21 - The run became all about surviving the heat. There was very little shade, and I felt every degree. Local Nevis legend David Lewis caught me around a little over halfway. I tried everything to stay with him, but that old dog still has plenty of bark left. He put together a phenomenal race, and it’s always fun competing against him.

FINAL TIME- 2:19:41

- 4th Overall

- 2nd Male Overall

- 1st M30–34

Considering the week and the conditions, I’m proud of this one. It wasn’t the time I came for, but sometimes racing is about adapting and making the most of the day you’re given. Congrats to all the athletes that showed up and finished what they started. 

Chisago 70.3 is up next.

Emmanuel & Kristen, Thad and Caroline...

Wednesday, 29 July 2026 11:42

2026 Chisago Lakes Sprint - As usual, his event was the the largest (238 participants) of Chisago's three races (with include aquabikers), though the Long Course event wasn't far behind (210). The remainder (189) of the 637 entrants did the Olympic contest.

The sprint racers that were expected to race at the front lived up to the predictions, albeit with minor adjustments. For instance, two-time Sprint champ Diane Hankee, who also owns three runner-up trophies here, was able to add another 2nd place award to her collection. (Diane has won more than 40 multis in her stellar career!)

Winning the women's title was Kristen Hawkins. We expected a podium finish from her but were mildly surprised by her win, which incidentally was by a sizable margin (3:05). Her competitive focus for the last few years had been on Olympic-distance racing, whereas Hankee's resume had been sprint heavy. Then there's the muscle memory factor. Diane's history in this race seemed to give her an edge, and though she raced well last Sunday, Kristen was not to be denied. 

Good stuff!

On paper, we predicted that the final women's podium step would go to either Deana Jagielo or Whitney Greilanger. Deana has a win and 2nd here at Chisago Sprint, though not recently. Her resume for the last four years has been that of a dedicated distance runner, not an active triathlete. 

In the end, Greilanger took the final podium step, and Jagielo finished in 5th place.

Nathan Strudle, won last year's Sprint and placed 2nd the year before that, so we were not surprised that he cracked the Top 2. Finishing first was a 55-year-old French/American stud named Emmanuel Darne. He's one of those guys who doesn't race often, but when he shows up, he makes his presence felt at the front of the race.

Andy Daykin, whose 3rd place effort at Oro Valley Sprint in the Tucson area a few years back impressed us, finished in the bronze medal position.

2026 Chisago Lakes Olympic - Emmanuel Darne wasn't the only 55-plusser to finish on top of the podium at Chisago. Thaddeus Ingersoll, 56, who sets AG records almost every time he races, as well as finishing near the top of the overall leaderboard in those events, strutted his impressive here last Sunday, winning by a 28-second margin over runner-up Jacob Neimann, who was last year's winner at Green Lake Olympic.

The first place women's award went to Caroline Howard of Berkeley, California, whose margin of victory in the oppessive non-norcal weather was a chunky 4:47.

While the Sprint was celebating two decade of competition, the upstart Olympic was celebrating its 4th anniversary.  RESULTS

Paige Shines, Tyler and Grace Breakout!

Tuesday, 28 July 2026 00:10

Chicago Lakes Long Course Coverage - Sunday was a tough day. Warm and humid in the morning that got hotter and "humider" as the day wore on. Temps climbed it into the 90s in the early afternoon. And making things more challenging for the long course racers was road construction that necessitated an elongated bike course.

Total distance estimate: 72.4. For most, performance expectations needed to be adjusted.

Still, there were some extraordinary performances, especially on the women's side. Prerace favorite Paige Schulz was amazing, rocking a 4:43:10. Factoring the addition bike mileage, her time was the equivalent of a 4:38. And had the weather been more accommodating, additional minutes could be subtracted. Her victorious 4:34 clocking at Madison last year, a PR, would have been seriously challenged, perhaps even bettered.

Then there was Grace Busch, an exercise scientist who used her expertise to demonstrate two things: First, that she is not just elite at Sprint and Olympic distances, and Two, that her 5:08:32 70.3 debut at Des Moines last year did not define her long distance capabilities. 

On Sunday, Grace threw down a 4:52:25, a16+minute improvement on Des Moines, and represented the equivalent of a 4:46. She's only 24 and you gotta love her competitive trajectory.

The final podium spot as earned by 2025 Most Improved nominee Amy Preusser, whose 5:05:19 translates to 4:59. Her goal was to break the 5-hour mark, and though she understands, as do we, that an equivalent long course time and $2 will get you a small Dark Roast at Caribou, which we prefer over the oligarchial Starbucks, she had to be satisfield with her effort and what it portended for her future.

The other pre-race favorite, Nathan Kim, decided not to race and concentrate on his prep for Ironman Wisconsin. He did attend the event, however, doing so in his role as a coach, and two of his clients claimed the 1st and 3rd spots on the men's overall podium. With a couple miles to go, Spencer Syvertson, the new prerace favorite after Kim's withdrawal, was suffering, as were most of 210 of the event's long course registrants. When Tyler Frank, who was making his 3rd Chisago appearance, caught him, Spencer wished him well. He's that kind of guy.

Frank went on to make his first major regional victory offical. His time was 4:30:06. Syvertson needed an additional 2:41 to finish and claim 2nd. 

Kim's other client, Samuel Larson, who won the Trinona Olympic race last month and finished 5th here in 2023, earned the final podium spot. We're loving the fact that the Minnesota tri scene has some emerging stars, guys that were merely flirting with being on the radar until this season.

RESULTS

"...Looking Forward to Coming Back."

Friday, 24 July 2026 00:10

By Cami Eckhoff

Race report ~ Timberman Triathlon

This was my first time racing at Timberman, and I’ll definitely be back, hopefully with my family so we can enjoy the incredible resort, too!

It had been a few years since I raced an Olympic-distance triathlon, and this distance is uncomfortably hard for me, so why not sign up for that!?!

The swim was stunning~ Sugar Lake was so beautiful and also calm, which is always nice to see on race morning! I started out at a controlled effort and settled into a steady pace for the entire mile. I came out with the second-fastest swim, behind Heather Lendway, who went on to take the overall win! 

My main goal for the day was to hit my target power over the 25-mile bike, even though the course ended up being hillier than I expected. I knew that effort might cost me a little on the run, but I worked really hard and finally nailed race power! 

The run was tough and getting toasty. I came up short of my goal time, but managed to keep my splits fairly consistent over all 6 miles. In the end, a finish line is always fun to sprint to, which landed me second place overall! Most importantly, I’m so grateful for the chance to race and challenge myself. 

The only downside was another terrible post-race migraine. I would really like to figure out what’s causing those.

Thanks to everyone who made this event such a great experience. I’m already looking forward to coming back! RESULTS

Record Turnout & Exciting Action...

Wednesday, 22 July 2026 00:10

2026 Lake Rebecca Tri Coverage - The threat of heat, humidity and smoke undoubtedly kept some of the 320ish registrants at home, but the 272 athletes who finished the race were greeted by clear skies, breathable air and moderate temps.

The Sprint race was exciting and we must admit that we were pulling for Jeron Hall to win it. He's a young guy (age 20) whose 3rd place finish at Buffalo Olympic under extreme conditions impressed us. The question was: Was he ready to challenge the veteran likes of Brett Lovaas and last year's winner Anthony Hirschman.

The answer to that question was yes.

A wave two starter, Hall had little trouble moving into the lead after the swim. From there he threw down solid splits on the bike and run. When he crossed the finish line ahead of the Sprint field, what remained to be seen was if he could hold off the later starters.

Did he? Not quite.

Jeron needed three minutes to pass before he knew that he couldn't be beaten by a 3rd waver, i.e. M-30-39. One minute and thirty-seven ticks later, fellow 2nd waver Ryan Preusser finished. Jeron remained in the lead, but unfortunately for him, only 1:09 later, Robert Atchison, 35, of Miwaukee crossed the finish line and claimed a 10-second lead over Jeron. With waves four and five, which featured Hirschman, 46, and Lovaas, 51, yet to produce a finisher, the wait continued.

When the dust cleared at the front of the men's race, Lovaas would knock Preusser, who had a great race, off the podium, but Ryan would hold off Hirschman, albeit by a scant seven seconds.

We researched Atchison's racing history, and it appears that his win (and quick time!) was a breakout performance. Very cool!

Past Lake Rebecca champs Andrea Myers, an eight-time Master of th Year nominee, and 2025 Junior of the Year nominee Adeline Althaus-Kotila, would face off for the third time at the LRT. Adeline won last year, and Andrea won in 2024, doing so in a time that stands as the women's course record.

But it was not destined to be a battle between the 16-year-old Althaus-Kotila and the newly-minted 50-year-old Myers. Adeline would come close to matching her winning time last year, but it could only yield a bronze medal finish. For Myers to win the race, she needed to overtake Colleen Baker, 35, who won Tinman Sprint in the 2026 Minnesota Tri Season Opener, and placed 8th at Buffalo Sprint against a very strong field. 

Baker was the first woman to cross the line, her 1:17:43 the second fastest women's time in the brief history of this race. Now she had to play the waiting game. To win her second race of the 2026 season, the fastest athlete from Wave 4 (40-49) needed to finish in less than three minutes. That did not happen. Would a Wave 5 athlete finish within the next three minutes?

Yes. Only 2:30 passed before Myers crossed the line, giving her the win and a half-minute margin victory. Exciting stuff! 

Four Age Group records were rewritten last Sunday, courtesy of Hirschman (M40-49), Lovaas (M50-59), Myers (W50-59) and Kevin Grafft (M60-69).

Seventy of the 272 athletes participated in the Super Sprint (125y - 5.7 - 1.3). Leading the way for the men was Alex Herzog (38:06). Ellen Valdes (40:24) won the women's race.

RESULTS - https://www.mtecresults.com/race/leaderboard/21008/2026_Lake_Rebecca_Triathlon-Sprint_-_Individual

Fun Times in Shoreview...

Monday, 20 July 2026 00:10

2026 Turtleman Coverage - While T-Man's Sprint race unfolded pretty much as you thought it would, the Olympic was a different story. The men's overall podium were guys who were cracking the Top 3 for the first time in their respective tri careers. And the women's winner was a visitor from California, who managed to outrace our pre-race pick--Kelly Van Dyke--by 33-seconds.

We love when this stuff happens.

So, the men's Olympic race was won by Dylan Coutermash of Faribault,  who raced here, albeit rather anonymously, in 2023, finishing 44th in the Sprint. The silver medal spot was earned by Aiden Doughman, who nipped bronze medalist Nathaniel Phillips by one second.

Winning the women's race was West Coaster Devin Nuckles, a long course veteran, who narrowly beat Trinona Sprint winner Kelly Van Dyke. Anna Cook too the third place award.

Three-time Minnesota Triathlete of the Year Preston Youngdahl, who has competed sparingly since 2024, took the Top Step in the Sprint in Race Record time (1:01:09). Unsurprisingly, his closed challenger was two-time Minnesota Junior of the Year Corbin Deichman (1:04:32), who came into the race undefeated in two starts. Fellow Junior Trevor Bauer, who was making his 4th racing appearance on MInnesota soil this season, took 3rd. 

As predictable as the men's Sprint winner was Erin Rock, who has two wins and four podiums in her last five in-state starts, on the women's side. Two minutes and thirty-two seconds back was runner-up Rebekkah Deslauriers. Deirdre Hassett claimed the podium's bronze medal step.

MTN congratulates race management and participants on the success of this year's events, which were well-attended (350+), almost 30% of whom were newbies.