Race Previews

Doin' That Texas Thang....

Saturday, 22 October 2011 03:00

(Photos - Devon and Kortney plan to rock the Longhorn state on Sunday.)

Race Preview - Kortney Haag and nine other Minnesotans will race in Sunday's Austin 70.3. A glance at the start list tells us that Kort will be among the amateur favorites. An elite effort at Lake Walter E. Long coupled with her POY nominated 2nd place finish (in a PR-4:36:57) at Pigman Half would most certainly earn her a Long Course Athlete of the Year nomination.

The Austin course has produced very fast times. The pro records are Richie Cunningham's 3:48:55 (2009) and Nicola Spirig's 4:09:34 (2009); the ...
amateur CRs are held by Germany's Boris Stein (3:58:54 - 2009) and 2010 USAT AOY runner-up Kristin Andrews (4:34:26).

Times were somewhat slower in 2010, suggesting either a course change or inhospitable weather.

Can Kort challenge Andrews' mark? If she races like she did at Big Pig, the answer is a definite "Yes!"

Highs in the mid 80s are forecast for the Austin area on Sunday. Winds should be light (NW at 3 mph) and skies partly cloudy. Haag loves heat and hopes that the forecast holds true.

St. Paul pro Devon Palmer will also be racing on Sunday. His rookie effort at 70.3 (Racine 2009) produced an impressive and satisfying 4:01. Yup, Devon's aptitude for this distance is great. He's hoping to wrap-up his 2011 season with a Big Time effort. We think he'll do just that on Sunday. PREDICTION: Devon will pop a 3:55ish time and pocket some cash in the process.

MTN sends its best wishes to all of the Minnesotans who will be racing in Texas tomorrow:

* Mark Ambrosen * Joel Becker * Andy Gunsaullus * Kortney Haag * Christian Koch * Kristopher Krueger * Peter Laskiewicz * Devon Palmer * Tom Pettit * Kris Swarthout *