Race Previews

40th Timberman Sprint Preview...

Monday, 07 July 2025 00:10

The 40th TIMBERMAN, Minnesota's premier "Destination Triathlon," is happening next Saturday and you can still get in. Registration doesn't close until 11:59 PM on Thursday (7/10), so we encourage those who are currently on the fence about enrolling to join the 300-or-so athletes who have already registered, on the shoreline of Sugar Lake next weekend. RACE INFO

This year's SPRINT race should be especially exciting. Most of the "usual suspects" are returning, plus a few talented folks that are making their Timberman debut.

In alpha order, here are some of the projected frontrunners and some of the Age Group elites.

Overall:

 - MITCHELL CLAYTON - Minnesota's 2016 Junior of the Year has demonstrated adult-level star quality since returning to the sport after a long absence. A podium is not out of the question.

- BROOKS GROSSINGER - Brooks is a six-time Timberman winner, twice in the Olympic and four times in the Sprint. He's coming off a fine performance at Des Moines 70.3 (11th overall/ 1st 45-49M). A seventh T-Man win is certainly possible...

- BETTINA KEPPERS - A six-time Sprint winner and CR-holder. We're picking her to be the amateur women's winner, and placing 2nd woman overall on Saturday. Yes, there is a pro in the race.

-TARA MAKINEN - This hometown woman is a six-time winner and CR-holder on the "old" course. She's provided great competition for Bettina and should do so again.

- SHYANNE MCGREGOR (Top Photo) - The pro we mentioned earlier. A successful 70.3 racer, she is just as formidable on sprint course. She outraced everyone, gender notwithstanding, at Brewhouse Sprint last year. Her main challenge will be to make sure that the erformance she turns in on Saturday is faster than Bettina's amateur mark (1:01:57). Could she make the overall podium? It's possible.

- SEAN PICKLE (Photo R) - Sean wants a podium finish next weekend. It won't be easy but we're not counting him out. He's a three-time Junior of the Year nominee.

Age Group Winner Predictions:

- KYLER WILLIAMS (00-19M), JENA OGSTON and JILL ELLENBECKER will battle for the 50-54W title, LUKE HARNED (70-74M), MADISON NISULA (00-19W), CHRISTEL KIPPENHAN (60-64W), ROD RAYMOND (60-64M), RICK ROVANG (75-79M).

Timberman Olympic predictions will post on Wednesday.