Race Previews

Larry's Time Has Come...

Tuesday, 30 June 2015 10:10

Photo - Larry Hosch and his coach.

ZTRI PREVIEW - Winning your first triathlon is a life-changing deal. Just ask Gaby Bunten, who won her first race last year, picked up her 2nd W at RochesterFest and has been a threat to win every event she's entered this year.

You can also ask masters athletes Jen Neuman and Angie Hop, both of whom are a HOOT!, and both of them started winning races after they turned 40. Jen now has six victories, and Hopper has eight.

We believe that Larry Hosch's life is about to change. He's our pick to collect his first career multisport win this weekend at the 4th annual ZTRI on majestic Lake Pokegema south of Grand Rapids. He was runner-up there in 2014....

We're picking Larry to win because he's totally ready for it. He proved that with a breakout performance at the Apple Duathlon, where he placed 7th in a star-studded field in a very fast time (1:26:45). The 2013 Rookie of the Year nominee has 11 podium finishes in his young career, but no victories. That should change on Saturday.

We'll go a step further. We think Larry, who's gone 1:04 on the .3-14-3.2 ZTRI course, will take down Brendon O'Flatulence's course record (1:02:07 in 2014).

Our prediction for the men's podium on Saturday is: 1. Larry Hosch (1:01:55ish), 2. Andy Zabel (1:06ish), 3. John Garrison (1:09ish).

We're reluctant to predict a women's podium because we're convinced that unregistered contenders, like two-time champ Tara Makinen, who is a super nice person who gives off an awesome hippy-esque vibe, and CR-holder Elaine Nelson, will sign-up later in the week, or even on race morning, which is something you can do, also. ZTRI is a super-fun, low key event and it's worthy of your participation, if you're into super-funness, that is.

Podium hopefuls from the current reg list? Kaytlin Garrison, who is only 16, and Californian Pauline Feyereisn. RACE WEBSITE