Race Previews
39th T-Man Preview #1...
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Sunday, 07 July 2024 00:10
39th Timberman Triathlon Preview - The list we are using is from more than two weeks ago, and we expect to get an updated listing soon. Until then, here are some of the athletes we expect to excel on Saturday:
Olympic -
TOM BROWN, 65, Emily - Tim's a two-time Grand Master of the Year. His PR here is 2:26 (2022), a minute of Neil King's 65-69 record. Is he ready ready to do some rewriting? It's very possible. He's racing well this season.
SAMUEL HAUCK, 40, Eden Prairie - We're picking Sam to be the first master to cross the finish line this weekend....
JASON CRISP, 47, Carlton - As always, there's a lot of competition in the AG, and Jason is our pick to win the division.
JAN GUENTHER, 65, Long Lake (Top Photo) - Jan's a five-time Timberman winner, and current holder of the 60-64W AG record. She's aged-up and we expect to see the 65-69W record, which as stood since 2019, to go down.
CHUCK HENGEL, 60, Wayzata - With divisional wins at Lake Minnetonka and Cllearwater Olympic, we expect his string of AG victories to be extended on Saturday.
ELENA JASPER, 27, Deephaven - Elena is racing at a National level this year but it may not be enough to upend former World and National champion Heather Lendway, who has won the last three editions of Timberman Olympic. We will predict that the margin separating these talented woman will be much smaller than in year's past.
HEATHER LENDWAY, 39, St. Paul - Heather has lost to a Minnesota woman only once, and that was at her first triathlon back in 2012. We won't bet against her.
DAVID LEWIS, 50, Nevis - A three-time top 5 overall. finisher here (since 2017), David has turned 50. He is our pick to win his AG.
AMY WOOLSEY, 59, Foley - Winner of her AG here in '23 and '22, we believe she will do it again.
Sprint -
DANIEL DUFF, 60, Duluth - Dan won the 55-59 here last year. He's 60 now and if AG record holder Craig Peterson doesn't enroll, he should win his division.
BROOKS GROSSINGER, 47, Mayer - Brooks set a CR here in 2019 and has four more T-Man victories on his scorecard. If 2023 and 2022 winner Andrew Kershaw stays home, Brooks will be favored to win on Saturday.
LUKE HARNED, 71, St. Paul - With four straight AG wins here, Luke is hard to bet against. He just missed matching Neil King's 70-74M record last year. Maybe he'll take it down this weekend.
BETTINA KEPPERS, 41, Duluth - The five-time Timbarman Sprint champ needs one more W here to tie Tara Makinen's record. We think she'll make that happen.
CHRISTEL KIPPENHAN, 59, Bemidgi - Since 2016, Christel has set three AG records. This is her last chance to lower her own 55-59W record before she starts rewritting the 60-64 mark.
TARA MAKINEN, 45, Grand Rapids - She has a record six wins here and will most certainly podium on Saturday.
JENA OGSTON, 52, Duluth - Jena has one win and eight other podium finishes here.
JUDITH PETERS, 64, St. Cloud - Judy won her AG here in '22 and '18.
ROD RAYMOND, 59, Duluth - The Rocket is our pick to win the 55-59M AG.
Some of the credentialed triathletes we expect to race are, PRESTON YOUNGDAHL, HENRY JESSEN, TIFFANY KARI-CIZMAS, SEAN PICKLE, and SPENCER SYVERTSON.
