Race Previews

2025 Chisago Lakes Tri Preview...

Wednesday, 23 July 2025 00:10

CHISAGO LAKES 70.3 OBSERVATIONS- The long-range weather forecast for this year's Chisago races looks pretty darn good. Partly cloudy with light winds and  the warmer temps aren't expected to arrive until almost everyone has finished.

The MTN Guys love to make predictions, and we love to be right, but we also love to be wrong, and we've been wrong a lot when prognosticating about the winners of the Chisago Lakes 70.3. Here's some of out favorite examples of that: ...

2024 - NATHAN KIM - Okay. This wasn't a huge surprise, though based on his youth and prior results, we predicted a 3rd-place finish behind 70.3 vets SEAN COOLEY,  a consistent sub-4:10 guy with a 4:02 personal best, and JAKE KEEHAN. Not only did Kim win, his margin over Cooley was substantial (2:35) and he lowered his personal best by four minutes despite unrelenting wind and scorching heat. We got to watch Nathan, as they say, "go to the next level." Exciting stuff! 

2022 - LUKAS KLAWITTER - A collegiate runner at Adams State in Colorado, we had never heard of this guy. He was doing graduate work at NDSU when he decided to give Chisago a try. He popped a 4:14 and won by a 4:31 margin. His racing career since then hasn't included triathlon.

2021 - KARL NYGREN - An accomplished cylist and nordic skier, Karl dabbled briefly in triathlon, undoubtedly at the behest of his wife-to-be KELLY TROM, with whom he shared the Winner's Circle in 2021. His 70.3 debut produced a 4:16:23 and his margin of victory (5:39!) portended a bright tri future, which he chose not to pursue.

2018 - MATT HUTCHINSON (AUS) - An aspiring Aussie pro that we had never heard OF was visiting a friend in Madison, Wisconsin when he decided to sign up for the Chisago Half IM. He popped a 4:06. 

Interestingly, the women's winners and podium finishers have proven to be predictable, though order-of-finish has varied. We are confident that CAMI ECKHOFF, our state's June Triathlete of the Month, will not finish out of the Top 3. She's currently our pick to win the women's title. As for the men, JOE ADRIAENS and PETER WIKMAN appear to be the guys to beat but we are reluctant to say they are clear podium pics because history tells us that a heretofore unknown, or a late registering elite, will shake things up at the front of the race.

The 21st edition of the Chisago Lakes 70.3 and Sprint, along with the 4th annual Olympic comppetition will happen next Sunday (7/27) at beautiful Paradise Park in Chisago City. Have you signed up for one of these terrific races yet? RACE WEBSITE