Race Previews

Two Great Races to Choose from...

Wednesday, 19 August 2015 00:10

LIFE TIME TRI - MAPLE GROVE & WASECA 1/3 & SPRINT - Finally!

Finally, a reasonably scheduled weekend, the kind of weekend that doesn't spread the participant base too thin. Minnesota athletes had fifteen races races to choose from in the last two weeks. This weekend there are only two races: the iconic Life Time Tri - Maple Grove on Saturday, and the Diamond-in-the-Rough Waseca 1/3 and Sprint on Sunday.

Last year, the Maple Grove event was the best attended of the Life Tme Minnesota Series. Current enrollment seems to be in the same ballpark as Minneapolis, i.e. 1400-1500 race day entrants. Love those numbers and hoping this demonstrates the beginnings of a "bounce back" in our sport...

As for Waseca, it's numbers have been hurt in recent years because the event fell on the same date as the Chisago races. Moving the date was a great idea, especially when the new weekend isn't a crowded one. PLEASE, if you're not registered for an event this weekend, give Waseca a chance. The venue and courses are terrific and the odd distances are totally cool. Though online registration has closed, the event allows day-of-race sign-up. Get there early, okay, because we anticipate a larger-than-usual influx of race-dayers.

Okay, now for some predictions, starting with Waseca. We believe that Kevin O'Connor will win whichever race he decides to enter. FYI, he has the masters record in the long course, and the Top 2 times in the short course. He's racing like a banshee this year and could well earn a Triathlete of the Year nomination as well one for MOY. The MOY nomination is a foregone conclusion.

The women's long course favorite is Suzie Fox, our state's winningest multisportswoman this season. Though she's not registered currently, we're hoping that Rookie of the Year frontrunner Dani Vsetecka decides to race. Winner of TWO half IMs this year, the amiable Rochester resident would give Fox a heckuva battle.

If Dani doesn't race, we think that Stephanie Dellaria will finish 2nd. Also, if the weather cooperates, Fox will have her sights set on shooting down Cathy Yndestad's impressive CR (2:56:16).

Our short course picks to win the men's race is either O'Connor, or if he chooses the long course, first-year triathlete Toby Henkels. An impressive effort on Sunday would make Henkels a shoo-in to join Vsetecka on the list of Rookie of the year nominees.

We were so blown away by 16-year-old Alyson Welch's winning performance at RochesterFest Sprint in June that she is our pick to win Sunday's sprint. Alyson needs a third great effort this year in order to earn a Junior of the Year nomination. Hear that, Alyson? We'd love to see you get the recognition you deserve at season's end.

Life Time Tri Maple Grove Predictions:

Olympic CR holder Kris Spoth has this race dialed in. We think he'll become a four-time champion next Saturday.

Kris's co-champ should, once again, be Christina Roberts, who is coming off huge wins at Heart of the Lakes and YWCA. Ranked 9th on Team Minnesota last season, a win on Saturday would all but guarantee her a Triathlete of the Year nomination. She appears to have a Most Improved nomination already in the bag.  We think Roberts' podiummates will be Gaby Bunten and Kelly Trom.

Picking Spoth's podium partners is a bit tougher. Brian Gorman is a good choice, of course. Larry Hosch, arguably the current men's MI frontrunner, is our Bronze medal pick.

Also, we're picking La Crosse, Wisconsin teen Jake Croteau to break the junior CR. Because he's raced in Minnesota three times this season, he will be eligible for a JOY nomination.

We expect Cheryl Zitur to repeat as Sprint champion, with Matt Radniecki and Michael Weissenborn duking it out for the men's title. These guys went 1-2 at Minneapolis, with Weissenborn prevailing by two seconds. Our gut tells us that Radniecki, who beat Michael at Trinona Sprint, will come out on top at picturesque Weaver lake Park on Saturday.