Race Previews

Pulling Off the TwoFer....

Thursday, 04 August 2011 03:00

Race Previews - Likely 2011 Triathlete of the Year nominee, Becky Youngberg, is signed up for two multis this weekend. On Saturday, she's slated to do the inaugural Graniteman-Big Lake Triathlon, a much-anticipated event produced by the cool folks who give us G-Man-Clear Lake and the G-Man Series. Big Lake replaces the Paynesville Area Tri, not because the PAT was struggling, but because BL, thanks largely to its proximity to the Twin Cities, will have more mainstream appeal. Paynesville was challenging, not just competitively, but from a travel and lodging standpoint...

On Sunday, Youngberg will do the Silver Anniversary edition of the venerable Brewhouse, a great event that she has won three times (2008, 2004, 2003). For those who don't know, i.e. most guys, the "Silver" anniversary marks the 25th year of something.

Becky (photo R) has won half of the six multis she's done this year, all three of 'em being highly competitive Midwest Multisport Series events (Lake Waconia, Timberman and Heart of the Lakes). Can she add two more Ws to her scorecard this weekend? A glance at each of the race's start lists suggest that she will be coming in as the favorite. But winning back-to-back races is a tall order, though Dan Hedgecock did it two weekends ago. Can Becky do it, too? Can she pull off the Twofer?

We totally think so.

On paper her stoutest challenge at Graniteman-Big Lake will come from 2010 Master of the Year nominee Sarah Mercer and 2010 Most Improved nominee Diane Hankee. Becky can't take either of these girls lightly.