Race Previews
Perham Records in Jeopardy....
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Tuesday, 26 June 2018 23:20
15th PERHAM TRIATHLON - Known as the Average Jo Triathlon for it's first fourteen editions, this event has been renamed for its host community. It is now the Perham Tri.
If you've never been to Perham, we suggest you check it out. It is a very pleasant town with a population of about 3500.
The race is a sprint, comprised of a 1/3 mile swim, 12 mile bike and 4 mile run, each contested amid scenic surroundings.
Race management was kind enough to share their early enrollment list with us, and a couple of names jumped off the page. First, was 2017 men's winner BRANDEN SCHEEL (photo R). Next was ANDREA MYERS. These two athletes could shoot down their respective gender's course records.
What are those records? MATT SIMMONS' 59:20, set back in 2006, and KIERANN (SMITH) TOTH's 1:08:03, turned in in 2010.
Why should Scheel, who's personal best here is 1:02:10, go faster than 59:20 on Saturday? Because his career trajectory is obvious, especially after he took down MARCUS STROMBERG's CR at Chain of Lakes, which appeared to be rather unapproachable. Going into the race, Scheel had a PR on the COLT course of 56:35, which was 44 seconds off Stromberg's mark. Close, but yet so far away. He came away from the 2018 race with a time of 54:11, which crushed the course record by a flabby 1:40.
But Branden didn't stop there. Two weeks later he finished 2nd in the amateur competition at Chattanooga 70.3. His time was terrific: 4:12:51. He's only 22. This young man, as they say, is going places.
So, how fast will he go on Saturday? Weather permitting (the current forecast is for mild, cloudy conditions), we think Scheel will crack 59-minutes, perhaps a 58:45.
As for Myers, 42, she was MTN's Master of the Month in May. She has been nominated for Minnesota Master of the Year the last two seasons, and has won two of the four multisport races she's done this year. FYI, her other two efforts produced a 2ndand a 3rd.
So, yes, she is capable of rewriting the women's record at Perham. We're anxious to see how she, and her husband SCOTT, also a decorated tri / du athlete, fare this weekend.
Scott is our pick to finish 2nd behind Scheel.
Others we expect to excel include perennial Grand Master of the Year nominee (he won the award a few years back) NEIL KING, 68, from Nevis, and JACK HENNEN, 17, of Cambridge.
More than 100 athletes are expected to participate. RACE WEBSITE
ED. Branden Scheel also won the Try Go Far Triathlon in Fargo last weekend by a 5:42 margin.
