Race Previews

Graniteman Clearwater XI Preview...

Thursday, 13 August 2020 23:10

GRANITEMAN CLEARWATER SPRINT XI PREVIEW - The success of the G-Man Big Lake Tri was clearly demonstrated in the days that followed the race. A huge percentage of its participants, wanting to duplicate the experience, enrolled in the Clearwater race. Big Lake drew more than 300 participants. Clearwater will field similar numbers.

Very cool.

Before we talk about some of the returnees, we are going to tell you about a very special athlete that was not  at Big Lake, but will be racing at Clearwater. She is a Duluth mother of three. Her name is SHYANNE MCGREGOR (photo L), and she is our pick to not only win on Sunday, but lower NICOLE HEININGER's stout course record 1:09:49, set in 2014.

McGregor had only raced in six prior triathlons, three in 2018, three last year. Her first four efforts were solid, though not quite the kind that portended stardom. Her last two efforts, though, not only portended stardom, they demonstrated it...

After two 6ths and a 4th in '18, she launched 2019 with a medium-dazzle 5:22:34/22nd place at Madison 70.3, which put her 46:10 behind the women's winner.

Then she went to Brewhouse Sprint, where decorated triathlete and elite water skier JENA OGSTON told us that she was going to win easily. The women's BH Sprint field was its deepest ever and we weren't ready to concur with Ogston's pronostication.

But Jena was right and we were wrong. Mcgregor's margin of victory was 3:15, and she lowered the women's CR by exactly one minute. Moreover, she placed 3rd overall.

That got our attention.

Then she went to Ironman Florida last November. What she accomplished there was astonishing. She was 4th overall women / 1st 35-39W in a time of 9:47:52.

Who will fill out the women's podium next Sunday? Based on the list we saw last week, we think that SARA RONDORF, who raced brilliantly in 2019, winning twice (Clearwater Sprint and New Bri,) will claim the second tallest step. There are a half-dozen women who could take the other spot, and our pick is ANNA RAINER, who turned heads with her 4th place finish at Big Lake. Like McGregor, Rainer's come a long way in a very short period of time.

Who will win the men's race at Clearwater? Our clear favorites are Big Lake winner JOSH MORK and JOE ADRIAENS, who placed 4th at BL despite going off course on the bike. Joe is looking for his first win, while Josh is seeking number eight.

UPDATE: We just saw a new registration list, which includes pro TED TREISE and ANDREW MANNING, both of whom are coming off impressive wins at Green Lake (Treise won the OLympic-ish events; Manning, the Sprint). Ted is now our pick to win. He has not lost to an amateur since he got his pro license.

Here are some AG predictions:

00-19 - CARSON ROEHL, 17 and SIMONE LUNDQUIST, 18 

40-44 - SARA RONDORF, 41

45-49 - MIKE BUENTING, 46 & CHERI BATES, 48

50-54 - RANDY PETERSON, 54, and AMY WOOLSEY, 54

55-59 - LISA HINES, 57

60-64 - TIM BROWN, 62 and HELEN GUNTHER, 63

65-69 - LUKE HARNED, 67 and MICHELL SANDERS, 66

70-74 - TOM COUILLARD, 71

Have you signed-up yet? If not, link HERE.

Photo R - MACY IYER, 16. She is but one of many talented junior girls who will be competing on Sunday.