Race Previews

Buffalo Sprint Stuff...

Sunday, 26 May 2019 23:10

15th BUFFALO SPRINT TRIATHLON - Typically, when an event offers both an Olympic (or longer event) with a sprint, more elite athletes gravitate to the Olympic. Minneapolis, Heart of the Lakes and Buffalo are perfect examples of this, though Buffalo has always managed to draw a very deep sprint field. 

Timberman and Brewhouse also attract a lot of talented sprinters, though mostly on the women's side, of late.

The women's field at this Sunday's Buffalo Sprint Triathlon will feature many of it's "ususal suspects," that is, women who have set the standards here over the years. We predict that three of those recidivists will fill out this year's podium. They are:

CHERYL ZITUR - Now 54, the three-time Minnesota Master of the Year started winning races when she was 49, and now has 13 Ws on her scorecard, two of which were recorded at Buffalo Sprint (2016, 2014). She owns this event's women's course record, a 1:03:32, which is 2:10 faster than the time of the second fastest woman. So, yes, she is our pick to win on Sunday.

 BETTINA KEPPERS - A teacher and human rights advocate, Bettina has won five races in the last three seasons, and has only missed the podium twice in 13 starts during that period. Put differently, her star is on the rise, and yes, she could win next weekend. Her best effort at Buffalo was a 2nd in 2016.

LAURA SWARTZ  (photo L) - Like Zitur, Laura, 52, is a two-time winner here, and has five additional podium finishes to go with that....

The men's sprint field, based on the last entrants list we saw, is not quite as deep as in the past. This is due, in part, to the fact that some of those who have rocked out in the past, have decided to "go long" this year. One of those guys, JOSH MORK, is one of the Olympic race's favorites.  

There are two guys whose names jump off the page, men who could win next Sunday's sprint race: SPENCER SYVERTSON and BRIAN STORHAUG.

Here are their creds:

SPENCER SYVERSTON - Just 22, Spencer has won three of his last five races that were staged on Minnesota soil.

BRYAN STORHAUG (photo R) -This muscular Alexandria resident loves sprint racing. A two-time Graniteman Clearwater Sprint winner, his best effort at Buffalo Sprint was his 2nd in 2015.

Have you signed up for this year's Buffalo Triathlon yet? You can still get in. RACE WEBSITE

We will preview Buffalo's Olympic race on Wednesday.