Race Previews

Liberty XI Stuff...

Friday, 12 June 2015 00:10

LIBERTY HALF - The weather for the 2014 Liberty Half and Olympic tris was yucky, still the event was awesome and the race was exciting. Somehow, Matt Payne managed to set a course record (4:02:46)...

Conditions should be ideal for this Saturday's race. According to weather.com, temps should range from 62 to 73 with light winds (8 mph). Though Matt is not on the start list, his CR could be challenged by 2014 runner-up Dan Arlandson and Canadian studs Jon Balabuck, who won here in 2009, and Patrick Peacock (3rd in 2013, 4th last year), and emerging Wisconsin guy Paul Rockwood. Though Payne is the only dude to dip under 4:10 at Liberty, we suspect that at least two men will accomplish that on Saturday. One of those guys just might be Brian Sames, whose current PR is 4:16.

Other wild cards in the mix are Kyle Serreyn and Jason Crisp. Both are capable of 4:15 or faster.

On paper, Wisconsin's Maggie Fournier is the one to beat in this year's half. Her stoutest challenge could come from talented triathlete / infrequent racer Erin Hydeman-Farrens. No more than six women have managed to break 5-hours in a single year at Liberty Half, which is celebrating its 10th birthday. We are hoping that that stat will be challenged. In addition to Fournier and Hyndeman-Ferrens, we also expect Erin Klegstad and Sara Carlson to dip under, well under, the 300-minute mark, as well as Kristin Gustafson and Julia Weisbecker. There are several women who are on the brink of doing so, and we're pulling for them to break through. That list includes  Katherine Coward, Ann Moyer, Jen Neuman and 51-year-old Master of the Year nominee in 2014, Tracy Serreyn.

We predict that AG wins will be claimed convincingly by Nick Klonne (19U), Tim Bode (45-49M), Julia Weisbecker (45-49W) and Tracy Serreyn (50-54W).

The 10th anniversary of the Liberty Half promises to be epic, and we're anxious to watch it unfold.

LIBERTY OLYMPIC - Christina Robert's CR - 2:12:21 (2013) - is formidable. Still, Lisa Lendway has to be considered a threat to rewrite history. A 2:12 or faster would be a PR for the reigning Trinona Olympic champ but we believe that she's ready to throw down. (NOTE:  Nicole "Heiney" Heininger is on the Liberty Olympic start list, but we learned that she will not be racing.)

Others who will battle for overall podium spots include Shelley Ostrander, who won the Green Bay Triathlon a few weeks back, Katie Burr and Jacquelyn Bacigalupi.

We're not ready to predict a winner for the men, though we wouldn't be surprised if past champion Scotty Penticoff does just that. Podium spots should be fought for by Phil English, Ben Trnka and Mike Ladendorf, who placed third here in 2014.