Race Previews
DKT & Mork Picked to Win on Sunday...
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Tuesday, 01 June 2021 00:10
BUFFALO TRIATHLON PREVIEW III - In our last post we predicted various outcomes in the women's Olympic and Sprint races. Today, we are discussing the men's competitions.
OLYMPIC - Overall (Alpha Order)
JOSH BLANKENHEIM - Our choice for the silver medal on Sunday, JB is the only man in the field who has has broken 2-hours on the current Buffalo Course. He enjoyed a stellar season in 2019, winning half of the six races he did, all in impresively fast times.
AJ MANNING (ND) - AJ ran away with the Most Improved honor last season, posting a win, two seconds and a fourth. He's our bronze medal pick, but he'll have to be...
mindful of DAVID KOPPEL and BROOKS GROSSINGER, who also have their sights set on the podium. Koppel is an emerging star who could have a breakout effort next weekend, that is if he's getting any sleep these days. His second daughter was born on May 25.
DAVID THOMPSON - We will not bet against our state's most successful--109 career wins!--multisportsman. After a four year absence, the former pro rocked a Performance of the Year effort at Square Lake last September. Now age 42, we see the Masters record getting crushed on Sunday, and maybe even a new overall course record.
OLYMPIC - Age Group
5054 - THAD INGERSOLL, 51- He's not only our pick to win his AG, we're predicting a divisional record. He should knock a few minutes off the current mark (2:13:35).
SPRINT - Overall (Alpha Order)
MIKE BUENTING - Two-time Master of the Year nominee, Mike won this race in 2019. He's our pick to finish 2nd on Sunday.
JOSH MORK (top photo) - Ranked 2nd on Team Minnesota the last two years, Josh is our pick to win. His best on the course is 57:15, which is the second fastest time ever.
BRIAN STORHAUG - Runner-up here in 2019, Bryan is one of our state's most consistent sprint course racer. We believe he will claim the 3rd step next weekend.
SPRINT - Age Group
5559 - ANDY CLARK, 58 - The men's 55-59 AG competition will be fun to watch. CRAIG PETERSON, 59, is back to defend his course record, and JOHN KELLEY, 57, will give him a great race. But we're picking Clark to win because he has already raced twice this season, winning the overall title in CR time in the first of those events (Apple Sprint), and placing 10th overall / 1st 50+ at Tri Clear Lake (IA).
6064 - TIM BROWN, 62 - The 2020 Grand Master of the Year, Tim's coming off a divisional win at Apple. He's undefeated in his last five starts and we won't bet against him.
7074 - NEIL KING, 71- GMOY in 2015, Neil is the 65-69 record holder here. The current 70-74 record is 1:19. Neil should rewrite it on Sunday.
