Race Previews

Maple Grove Olympic Preview...

Monday, 21 August 2017 19:10

MAPLE GROVE OLYMPIC PREVIEW - On Saturday, the Maple Grove Sprint and Olympic Triathlons will celebrate their 8th anniversary. Approximately 800 athletes are expected to participate, and the field strength in both races is impressive.

In alpha order, here are some of the Elites, i.e. "Premier Division," in the OLympic race who will battle for top spots:

- JOE ADRIAENS, 29, Elk River - Joe is enjoying a breakout season and is a likely 2017 Most Improved nominee.

- JAKE BRAAM, 26, Elysian - Likely Rookie of the Year nominee. A solid effort against a great field on Saturday should put him over the top.

- WADE CRUSER, 30, Sauk Rapids - Most Improved winner in 2016, Wade comes into this race as a prohibitive favorite.

- ERIN FARRENS (36, Maple Grove) - Erin, winner of the 2016 women's Most Improved award, was not on the registration list that we perused. She is the 2016 women's champ and has cracked the Top 5 here four times. We'd be surprised if she didn't race....

- SUZIE FOX, 32, Chaska - The 2015 Minnesota Triathlete of the Year is finally healthy and ready to take on the best in the region. A win here would be a milestone, her 40th!

- KORTNEY HAAG, 38, Maple Grove - Making her debut in her hometown tri, Kort has only raced four times this season, but she has won three of those races, two in course record time, and placed 2nd in the other. She has the fastest Olympic PR in the women's field, a 2:08!

- DIANE HANKEE, 40, Lino Lakes - Diane is not only expected to blow the doors off the women's masters CR, she could make the overall podium. Heck, she could win.

- JOEY HASSETT, 20, Iowa City - Competing for the ISU Cyclones, Joey won last year's MGO is a junior CR - 1:58:39.

- MAGGIE WEISS, 22, Excelsior - Runner-up  for Rookie o the Year in 2016, and likely 2017 Most Improved nominee, Maggie will be battling for a podium spot on Saturday.

There are several other talented athletes who hope to be barking with the Big Dogs at Maple Grove Olympic, like ANDY HARDT (UM), PATRICK MARZOLF, CRAIG MOSCETTI, KRISTINA SWENSON (ISU), SPENCER SYVERTSON (MSU), ROBYN WANGBERG and others. We're anxious to watch this race unfold. 

MTN will preview the Maple Grove Sprint in a future post.  RACE WEBSITE