Race Previews
Preston & Stephanie Are 2025 Fairmont Favorites...
-
Wednesday, 18 June 2025 00:10
Photo - Erica Benson finishing strong at Fairmont '24.
2025 Fairmont Sprint Triathlon Preview - TEVIN NEEGAARD's brilliant course record --54:32--at the umpteenth Fairmont Sprint last year put him squarely on the "tri radar" in our region. The heretofore unknown, in elite circles, that is, went on to claim the well-deserved 2024 Most Improve Male honor. And though he was not on the partial list of entrants that we saw on Monday, we wouldn't be surprised if he raced on Saturday. This race was his launching pad, after all.
If Tevin makes it to Gomsrud Park and were to better his 2024 time, that probably wouldn't be enough to win the race. Why? Because three-time Minnesota Triathlete of the Year PRESTON YOUNGDAHL has signed up. Preston has proven to be unbeatable in Sprint and Olympic in our region since his return to his home state from Louisiana in 2021.
Other men's podium hopefuls include two-time Junior of the Year NOAH BILLINGS, 19, three-time JOY nominee SEAN PICKLE, 20, and ageless and ubiquitous KEVIN MITCHELL, now 55, who won this race in 2023 and 2022. In 2021, he placed 2nd behind Billings....
15th Trinona Sprint History Preview...
-
Friday, 06 June 2025 00:10
15th Edition Trinona Sprint Preview - A few days ago we posted some historical information about Trinona's storied Olympic race, the 14th edition of which is happening next Sunday morning. Today we are going to share some historical stuff about Trinona Sprint, starting with overall and Masters and Junior race records:
- Top 5 Men's Times:
1. Kris Spoth - 53:37 (2016)
2. Brian Sames - 54:02 (2012)
3. Ben Trnka - 54:24 (2012)
4. Andrew Ernst, WI - 54:44 (2017)
5. Lance Leo - 54:49 (2017) - Masters Record...
2025 TRINONA OLYMPIC PREVIEW...
-
Sunday, 01 June 2025 00:10
14th Edition - TRINONA OLYMPIC Preview - Since it's birth in 2009, Trinona has put the "special" in "Special Event." It's courses are as beautiful as they are challenging and the event's performance history is beyond impressive. Here's some bullet point information about the Olympic race to illustrate this:
- For several consecutive years, starting in 2012, Trinona had hosted 1000+ registrants. We are talking about about the tris, not the associated kids and cycling events.
- Nine of the fifteen fastest men's Olympic times were turned in by professional triathletes. Minnesota legend David Thompson has the five fastest clockings. His jaw-dropping 1:52:45, set in 2011 is the race record. Remember, Trinona Olympic is the most challenging road triathlon in Minnesota....
Graniteman Buffalo Preview #2 - 19th Olympic...UPDATED
-
Friday, 30 May 2025 00:10
2025 GRANITEMAN BUFFALO OLYMPIC PREVIEW - Who do we expect to see at the front of the pack at the 19th Buffalo Olympic Triathlon next Sunday? Here are our current picks, though we are reasonably sure that additional elite athletes will enroll on or before race day....
2025 Buffalo Triathlon Preview #1...The Sprint...
-
Tuesday, 27 May 2025 00:10
GRANITEMANN BUFFALO TRIATHLON PREVIEW - The 20th edition of the Sprint version of this epic race is happening next Sunday; it's Olympic companion event will be clebrating it's 19th running. GBT boasts a terrific venue (Sturges Park) that for almost two decades has served as our state's fully outdoor triathlon opening day. (It is preceded on the calendar by a few pool swim tris.)
Today's preview, the first of two, will discuss the credentials of some of the talented athletes that are currently registered in the Sprint. The second preview will post information on some of the credentialed triathletes who will be racing in the Olympic event.
On paper, here are some of the athletes expected to lead the way in the Sprint:
MITCHELL CLAYTON - 2026 MInnesota Junior of the Year, Mitch, now 29, is making his Buffalo debut and it should be a successful one. In fact, his performances over the last two seasons suggest that he should land a spot on the podium, perhaps even pick up his 8th career tri victory...
Minnesotans Set to Excel in Northern Iowa Again...UPDATE!
-
Wednesday, 21 May 2025 00:10
TRI Clear Lake Preview - Historically, Minnesotans have excelled at this popular early season triathlon in northern Iowa, and several of them are returning. Let's start with the Sprint race:
MITCHELL CLAYTON, 29 - Mitch set the men's amateur sprint course record here in '24. He's coming off a very fast win at Tinman Olympic....
