Race Coverage
STATINS IN THE GOODIE BAGS...
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Saturday, 12 June 2010 17:01
Twas a moody day at Lake Independence, intermittently chilly, breezy and rainy, though never harsh enough to make for miserable racing
conditions. A sullen, not angry day. The conditions didn't slow down the men's podium finishers in the half, as each turned in satisfying efforts. Josh Riff's 4:16:13 led the way. He was followed by Steve Sander (4:24:40) and an elated Todd Landgraff, whose 4:25:31 was a nine minute improvement on his previous PR. For Sander, it was his 3rd consecutive runner-up effort of the season; he also placed 2nd at COLT and Buffalo Olympic. The win broke Riff's string of 4ths--Gear West and Apple.
The absence of pre-race faves Marlo McGaver and Karen Rosehart, each of whom have won this race twice, allowed Illinois' MJ Slikas to bask in the winner's spotlight. Slikas, who was the top master and 15th woman overall (10:46:46) at Ironman Louisville last year, posted a 4:54:47, a masters record..
Buff Stuff...
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Monday, 07 June 2010 09:02
In vague, but enthusiastic terms, the 7th edition of the Buffalo Triathon was totally cool. During clean-up,
Race Director Brett Oden said, in effect, that the event was everything he had hoped it would be. With cooperative weather and the diligence of the 400+ volunteers, the event plan was executed as close to flawlessly as could be hoped for.
For women
DEVON GOT 'ER DONE...
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Monday, 07 June 2010 06:00
(Photo: Incognito MJETs. Devon shaved his Hitler 'stache before the race. Lauren did not.)
St. Paul's Devon Palmer (photo) collected his 7th career multisport win on Sunday at the 18th annual Pigman Sprint Triathlon. The bright and amiable first-year pro who has cool hair, the bushy kind that never needs to be combed, was the first of six Minnesota men to crack the overall Top 8. The others were 6 or 7 time Pigman Sprint winner Kevin O'Connor (2nd), eight-time PS champ Brian Bich (4th), 20-year old Kyle Serreyn (6th), John Heinlein III (7th) and three-time Minnesota Junior of the Year Michael Williams (8th).
A great swim followed by his signature supersonic bike split--1:19 faster than O'Connor's 2nd fastest split--delivered Palmer to T2 with a nearly insurmountable lead. Kevin was able to make up 54 seconds on the run (and a faster transition). Still Devon won by a thick margin of 56 seconds....
Jody's "Jihad Chant".......
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Saturday, 05 June 2010 11:10
5th Annual NEW BRI TRI....June 5..S-800m-ish, B-14ish miles, R - 3ish miles
1. Karl Shultz, 40 - 1:06:12........1. Jenny Wilcox - 1:11:02
The Apple: BFFs Go 1-2...
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Sunday, 30 May 2010 11:53
Cathy and Julie are best friends. They do almost everything together and between them they have 64 blindingly white teeth that are rarely covered.
Singularly and collectively, they radiate happiness and good will.
They are also top level multisport athletes. Heck, Cathy was the 2009 US Athlete of the Year. And Julie's not far behind. On Saturday at the 28th edition of the Apple Du, she was ahead. Until the final mile of the final run, that is. In the end, the AOY demonstrated why she had won that award. And 11 skinny seconds after Cathy finished, Julie was there to give her a big, toothy hug! Walking away from the line, the lettering on their bums reminded us that their last names were Yndestad and Hull.
Apple Stuff: The Boys...
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Sunday, 30 May 2010 08:49
Do you remember Peter Skorseth? Handsome guy from pastoral Baldwin, Wisconsin. Looks a lot like a smilier version of actor Mark Harmon. (We don't have a photo of Peter, so we inserted a shot of Harmon. Imagine Mark with teeth. That's what Peter looks like.)
If you've been racing in Minnesota for more than five years, chances are good that his name is familiar. If you are an elite tri or du-athlete, though, you should remember him well. Peter Skorseth was a GREAT multisport athlete. In 2005, he won two MMAs--Master of the Year and Most Improved--and his herculean effort that year at the Apple Duathlon earned him a Performance of the Year nomination.