Race Previews

LWT - Part III - Podium Picks....

Friday, 23 June 2017 09:10

LAKE WACONIA TRI PREVIEW PART III - We did some AG predictions earlier in the week. We also shared some race history.

Today we are guessing who will take the Top spots in tomorrow's race. Let's start with the guys.

LWT XXVIII - MEN - 

In alpha order, here are the men we believe will comprise the overall Top 5: NATHAN ANSBAUGH, JOSH BLANKENHEIM, SAM HAUCK, KEVIN O'CONNOR and MATTHEW PAYNE.

Here are our comments:  

- ANSBAUGH (photo L) - Dr. Nate impressed us last weekend with his win at Lake Minnetonka. Can he win again? Hard to say, because the field he will face tomorrow is deeper than the one he faced at LMT. Because we are not ready to bet against Matt Payne, we think that Ansbaugh will place either 2nd or 3rd.

- BLANKENHEIM - Duluth's Main Man has podiumed twice in the last three years here. Can he repeat that feat. Sure. We're anxious to see how he fares against Ansbaugh. On paper, they appear to be similarly talented.

- SAM HAUCK - Formerly of Shoreview, now from Leganon, NH, Sam used to be a true tri stud. His 2007, 2008 and 2009 resumes were sterling. Then he went to college in Nebraksa and concentrated on bike racing. He's back on the tri scene now but his performance at St. Anthony's in April, while impressive, suggests that he may not be quiteready to race like he did almost a decade ago. Still, we pick him to place 5th tomorrow, though Andy Wiberg could be an obstacle here...

- KEVIN O'CONNOR - Since 2009, KO has placed 2nd here on four occasions. His runner-up last year in a Masters Record 1:22:06 was especially impressive. We suspect that Nate and Josh will push him to another 2nd tomorrow.

- MATTHEW PAYNE - The Payne Train has won here in his last three starts. Plus, a win tomorrow would be the 50th of his career. He's undefeated (in two starts) thus far in 2017, and we don't think that will change this weekend.

LWT XXVIII - Women:

Here, in alpha order, are four women who we believe will compete for Top 5 spots tomorrow: SHEENA DUAER, DIANE HANKEE, NICOLE HEININGER and CHRISTINA ROBERTS. We think that one of the Top Fivers will be a late registrant. Who? It could be two-time LWT champ SUZIE FOX, who was still on the fence when we last spoke to her.

- DAUER - Sheena will be making her LWT debut tomorrow. It's hard to say if she is ready to beat any of the women mentioned here, but she's shown (Apple, Buffalo, Maple Grove) that she's is getting closer to doing so with every start.

- HANKEE - Hankee was on fire in 2016, a year in which she placed 2nd at LWT, and the flames haven't died  down yet. She could win tomorrow. If she doesn't, she won't be far behind the eventual champ.

- HEININGER (photo R) - Nicole loves this race and has excelled here. Her LWT resume includes a win (2014) and a 2nd (2013). Her CR effort at New Bri three weeks ago suggests that she could come out on top here.

- ROBERTS - Roberts has two podiums here, and her duel with Hankee for 2nd last year was thrilling. Is she ready to win this time around? Heck yeah! Whoever wins will not do so in runaway fashion. In fact, we wouldn't be surprised if the winner was determined by a sprint finish, one that is even closer than in 2011, when Beck Youngberg held off a hard-charging Michelle Andres for a nine-second victory.

ED. LWT accepts race-day registrants.