Race Previews

Minneapolis Picks...

Tuesday, 04 July 2017 23:10

MINNEAPOLIS TRIATHLON - The 17th edition of this annual classic will happen on June 8 at Lake Nokomis. This is our state's largest and grandest tri...

"Hooty," the new RD sent us a list of entrants recently, and as ever, we got really excited. Especially about the women's Olympic race. Based on the list we saw, we have made our podium picks. Understand, that as with Lake Waconia, when the likes of SUZIE FOX, BRIAN SAMES, JORDAN ROBY and a few others, were late registrants, it is possible that an elite amateur or two, like SEAN COOLEY, HANNA GRINAKER and former champ BRIDGET McCOY will show up and undo our picks.

No biggie, though. Our goal is to drop some names and hopefully get folks interested in what might happen on race day.

So here are our Top 3 Olympic women, in alpha order:

- GABY BUNTEN (photo L) - Gaby was 3rd here in 2016, behind winner Alissa Doehla (NC), who is now a pro, and Hanna Grinaker, who has a pro future if she chooses to pursue it. As we mentioned earlier, Hanna is not currently enrolled in this year's race.

Does this mean that Gaby is our pick to win? When you add the fact that she is undefeated in two starts this year, and that her margins of victory each time were insane, to last year's result, then our answer is YES. Bunten has paid her dues and we think she's she's ready to break 2:10, something only two athetes--Heather Lendway and  Alissa Doehla-- have done here. A victory would be the 10th of Gaby's tri career.

- ELAINE NELSON - Elaine has been impressive in two starts this season. She was victorious at Buffalo Olympic, and 2nd at Gear West Du, her first race back after childbirth. Make no mistake, Elaine could win next weekend. Gaby will need a 2-3 minute lead off the bike in order to hold off the former UM track and cross country runner.

- MAGGIE WIESS - Maggie is on her way to becoming our state's next big star. She's fast, and she's wickedly aggressive, and she is already scaring the crap out of the established elites in our state. We fully expect her to podium on Saturday, and we wouldn't be surprised if she won.

As for the men, we believe that the race for first will be a fierce battle between NATHAN ANSBAUGH, who has won the last two races he's done, and KRIS SPOTH, who has already raced in five multis this year and not finished lower than 3rd. He won his last outing at Copper Creek in Iowa. Kris rocks in Life Time events, and has twice won their State Tri Series. Kris and Nathan haven't faced each other since 2015 at Maple Grove, a race that Kris won. Kris is our pick to come out on top at Lake Nokomis, but by a very narrow margin.

And what about MATT PAYNE, you ask? The two-time Minneapolis winner will not be racing this year. And who will fill out the men's podium? We are convinced that a late registrant, someone like BRIAN SAMES or DAVID HOLDEN, will claim that bronze medal spot.

UPDATE - We have just learned that SEAN COOLEY and HANNA GRINAKER have enrolled. They each finished 2nd last year and neither of the 2016 winners will be returning. Yes, this moves Sean and Hanna into the "Favorites" seats. So the way we see it shaking out is this: WOMEN - 1. HANNA, 2. GABY, 3. MAGGIE. And the MEN - 1. SEAN, 2. KRIS, 3, NATHAN.