Race Previews
Upper Midwestern Awesomeness...
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Sunday, 06 December 2015 00:10
In recent years, athletes from the Upper Midwest, i.e. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan, have received more than their share of USAT AOY awards and HMs. It doesn't look like that will change any time soon. Here are some of the Upper Midwestern triathletes who should receive award consideration for their 2015 resumes:
DANIEL STUBLESKI, 39, Washington, MI – Dan was named AOY in 2013 and 2014 and should be in the running for that award again. For the last four years, he has been the best long distance amateur triathlete in America. Will he win the AOY again? We don't think so. We suspect that USAT will want to, as they say, spread the wealth. They will likely choose a short course star, either a guy from Virginia, or a guy who currently resides in Washington state. Either one of those guys would be an great choice. (We promised USAT that we wouldn't predict the winners by name.) ...
Stubleski, then, would be a shoo-in for an Honorable Mention. Other Upper Midwesterners who had outstanding seasons and thus a good shot at an HM are JAMES BURKE (Whitefish Bay, WI), RYAN GIULIANO (Shaumberg, IL) and our own MATTHEW PAYNE (Columbia Heights, MN). Payne and Burke earned HM recognition in 2014.
Check out Daniel Stubleski's 2015 highlights:
- 1st overall @ Ironman Florida – 8:36:06 (-18:45!)
- 1st amateur @ Racine 70.3 – 4:04:21
- 1st overall @ Steelhead 70.3
- 4th amateur / 1st US @ Kona – 9:01:38
- 13th – 2nd AG @ USAT Nationals
St. Paul's HEATHER LENDWAY won the women's AOY last year, but we don't predict that an Upper Midwesterner will win this year. Why? Because Heather got her pro license AND a woman from the southern US has emerged as the clear choice.In deference to USAT, we will not name her here.
Will any Upper Midwestern women make the AOY HM list? We think so. We believe that Chicago's SARAH ALEXANDER is a lock and that JEN GARRISON (Naperville, IL) will get strong consideration. CINDI BANNINK (Madison, WI) and EMILY KRATZ (Milwaukee, WI) are among the "long shots" in this category.
As for the masters, we believe that USAT will indeed pick an Upper Midwesterner. Once again, we won't reveal that name. As for MOY HMs, we would be shocked if a pair of Minnesotans--TONY SCHILLER (photo top L) and KEVIN O'CONNOR--weren't selected.
As for the female MOY and HMs, several Upper Midwesterners--CHERYL ZITUR (Corcoran, MI - photo with husband Dave above), MEGAN JAMES (Portage, MI), SUE PIERSON (Neenah, WI), TRACY KELLNER (Mequon, WI) and LIZ WATERSTRAAT (Naperville, IL)--should be considered. Zitur is, in our opinion, the only one in this group who is not a long shot for an HM. We think the winner will come from the 50-54 AG.
A couple of Upper Midwesterners will be in the men's Grand Master of the Year discussion. We think one of those guys will win.As for the female GMOYs, we expect to see at least two Upper Midwestern women--KAREN MCKEACHIE (62, Ann Arbor, MI) and GRACIELA VAL (76, Evanston, IL)--earn HMs. We predict that the winner will come from Colorado.
