Race Previews

Kadie, Vanessa & a Pair of Seans....Updated...

squarelakebeach.png

SQUARE LAKE TRIATHLON WEEKEND PREVIEW - The 24th edition of the Square Lake Sprint is happening next Sunday, and willbe preceeded the day before by the Square Lake 70.3, which will celebrate it's 23rd birthday. The events are scenic and challenging and the lake and rural environs are nothing short of spectacular. Square Lake is the kind of place that is hard to leave, and many who do these races return for training sessions....

Read more ...

Hopkins Hosts Mini Sprint Nationals!

hopkinswimmers.png

HOPKINS ROYAL TRIATHLON PREVIEW- The HroT--the event's preferred acronym—is celebrating its 10th anniversary on Saturday. As always, the event filled early, but we nevertheless invite everyone to attend and participate either as a volunteer or a spectator. In case you don't know, Hopkins is one of region's premier spectator events. The finish area crowds are large and enthusiastic. Great vibe...

Read more ...

Rematches....

joshandjason.png

 

Photo (L-R) - Josh Blankenheim, his daughter Finley, and Jason Crisp.

LAKES COUNTRY TRIATHLON PREVIEW – Including it's predecessor, the “Whipple Wave Triathlon,” this two-name event—Lakes Country and Baxter Triathlon—has been around for a quarter century. It's a very cool race made even cooler in recent years with upgrades to Whipple beach and park.

 From a competitive standpoint, we are very excited about he rematch of last year's top two guys—JOSH BLANKENHEIM and SPENCER SYVERTSON--both of whom are racing brilliantly this season. Maybe, just maybe, WADE CRUSER's 2018 race record will be replaced. 

 What about MICHELLE ANDRES' women's race record, her 1:04:27 set way back in 2014? Is it in jeopardy? 

Maybe. That's because BECKY YOUNGBERG, who is not currently registered, has been popping up at races lately, only to walk away with dominant victories. It needs to be said that the list of entrants we are consulting is more than a week old, thus other competitive athletes may have, unbeknownst to us, signed up. ...

Read more ...

Brandon & Cami...

 camifist.png

YOUNG LIFE TRIATHLON PREVIEW - The 21st edition of the Young Life Olympic & Sprint Triathlons will happen this Saturday (8/17) on the scenic northern shoreline of Detroit Lake in, appropriately, Detroit Lakes. Though online registration has closed, 10 race-day walk-ups will be allowed. 294 athletes are currently enrolled in the traditional triathlons, with another 29 registered in the paddle tris....

Read more ...

21st Northwoods Preview...

nwcrowd.png

21st NOORTHWWODS TRI PREVIEW - Here are some of the talented athletes wh will racing at Northwoods on Saturday: 

MATA AGRE, 31, Nisswa - Three wins here and a consistent Top 5er.

JOSH BLANKENHEIM - This could be the year that Brooks Grossinger doesn't win the Northwoods Tri. Josh presents him with his greatest challenge so far. Blank is racing lights-out this year, and we suspect that the Blankenheim / Grossinger battle will produce a course record.

MITCHELL CLAYTON - With a win, two 2nds and a 3rd this season, Mitch has a shot at a pordium on Saturday. We predict that the battle for 3rd place will be between him and Nick Jasmer.

CAMI ECKHOFF. 35,  Detroit Lakes - Last time here, Cami placed 2nd. She's our pick to win this time around. She has two 2nds in 2024, both behind Minnesota's Triathlete of the Year frontrunner Elena Jasper.

BROOKS GROSSINGER, 47, Mayer - He's won this race seventeen times.  To get #18, he'll need to outrace Blankenheim. Brooks has a win and a 2nd on his 2024 scorecard thus far.

MISSY HEILMAN, 46, West Fargo - Based on her consistent podium efforts at Alexandria and Northwoods, we think a Top 6 is doable.

NICK JASMER, 32, Menagha - Nick's been paying his dues for the last few years, now he's moved to the front of the race. He could give David Lewis a run for the 3rd podium. spot behind Grossinger and Lee. Nick placed 2nd last weekend at Hoot Lake....

Read more ...

Brewhouse #37 Preview...Updated...

bhloogo.png

 

37th BREWHOUSE TRIATHLON PREVIEW - We are expecting an awesome event to unfold this weekend at Island Lake. Here are our picks to set the pace at BH XXXVII on Sunday: 

Olympic Men - 

JOSH BLANKENHEIM - Josh set the men's course record --1:57:15--on BH's original Island Lake course, and he's returning to the event for the first time since setting that mark in 2019. He's been Duluth's numero un male triathlete since the retirement of Brian Bich a decade ago and we expect him to prevail on Sunday. A win would be his third on this course. So you know, the amateur men's record here is Jason Crisp's 1:56:49. Weather permitting, we predict that Josh will pop a sub 1:55 this weekend.

JASON CRISP - Jason wasn't on the registration list that Matt shared with us, but we'd be surprised if he didn't race. He's got a pair of 2nd place finishes this season and we predict that he will place 3rd on Sunday. We think he'll give Blankenheim and Spencer Syvertson a good push.

SPENCER SYVERTSON - Spence has upped his game this year, as he clearly demonstrated when he gave Preston Youngdahl a scare at Lake Minnetonka. We think he will give Blankenheim a similar race on Sunday, and like Blank, turn in a time that's faster than the current CR....UPDATE: Spencer torched the men's racerecord at Alexandria this morning (7/27)...

Read more ...

2024LakesCountrySquare
GWHalf2024
2025ACM380
GmanMerch380
2024GLT180
2024GMClearwater180
Timber180-2024
2024HRT18-
MooseLT180x