Race Coverage
So Good to be Back!
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Monday, 02 August 2021 00:10
GEAR WEST HALF & OLYMPIC COVERAGE - For almost two decades Final Stretch produced numerous great multisport events. Unquestionably, the greatest of these was the Liberty Triathlon at Lake Rebecca Park Reserve. When MARK BONGERS, Final Stretch's owner and ebullient teddy bear of a guy, chose a new career path in 2018, Minnesota's tri community was truly saddened.
There was something about Liberty that was too good to die. Almost immediately it was understood that it would return someday. Several groups considered resurrecting the event. Then two years ago, JAN GUENTHER, owner of Gear West Bike and Triathlon who also happens to be our state's most decorated multisportswoman, and extroverted California exile JOHNNY SURPRISE (photo), committed themselves to making it happen. For them, it was time to stop talking, and start doing.
And they did, with all their heart and soul (and some awesome sponsors!). Last Sunday, triathlon returned to Lake Rebecca and the mood was joyous. The day was beautiful, sunny, no decernable smoke, and temps were agreeable for most of the event's duration....
A Successful Debut...
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Saturday, 31 July 2021 00:10
1st ALEXANDRIA TRIATHLON - Using a HS yearbook metaphor, BRIAN STORHAUG (photo) and COREY NYGAARD came into the race as the men's "Most Likely To Succeed." On the women's side, the same could be said for JOELLEN KOHLMAN-PETRICK.
Those athletes lived up to their designations, though Kohlman-Petrick had to contend with a very pesky local woman named KADIE HOKANSON, a lapsed triathlete who has successful results, albeit prior to 2011.
Joellen led, though not by a huge margin, until the run, when Hokanson steadily closed the gap. Kadie got within 16-seconds when she ran out of race course.
2020 Minnesota Grand Master of the Year LISA HINES, 58, filled out the women's Top 3....
Bontrager Wins Again...
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Wednesday, 28 July 2021 00:10
Couples Weekend in Chisago...
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Monday, 26 July 2021 00:10
CHISAGO LAKES HALF IRONMAN - KARL NYGREN's first tri was the Chisago Lakes Half in 2019. Pretty bold. He jumped right over sprint and Olympic. His result was admirable, a 4:30:12 which landed him in the overall Top 15. Guy's got potential, right? Who knows, he might even bark with the Big Dogs some day? ...
Triathlon Mom...
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Friday, 23 July 2021 00:10
ED. We've been sitting on this wonderful story for a while, waiting for an opening in our content queue. That opening is now. Enjoy.
By Jamie Tobias Swenson (from Facebook)
Long, proud mom post to follow 😉 Last weekend (June 19-20) felt so right. My family was finally able to return to racing, and did so in a big way. Many of you know that the sport of triathlon drives my kids like nothing else. Throughout the last 16 months they continued to set goals and push themselves in their training 6 days per week. They trained like every weekend was another race...even though it wasn't. Last Saturday, it was a wonderful feeling to wake up before dawn to head to the Minnetonka Tri,...
Breakouts Galore at HOLT!
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Monday, 19 July 2021 00:10
35th Heart of the Lakes Long Course Coverage - We love to witness breakout performances, and there were several of those last weekend. MAGGIE SWANSON's long distance debut at Door County Half Ironman produced a 4th place overall women's finish in a terrific 4:47:38 was one. She faced some very fast women there and beat most of them. All of her splits were admirable.
Then there was CARYN HERRICK's breakout effort last Sunday at Heart of the Lakes. On paper, several more experiened and credentialed women were expected to finish in front of her. It seemed that a 4th place finish behind three-time HOLT champ CHRISTINA ROBERTS, one-time winner and three-time runner-up DIANE HANKEE, and KORTNEY HAAG, winner of twenty-three tris in her stellar career, would be a best case scenario. Besides, she had already finished behind those women in earlier 2021 races.
Roberts felt great when she exited the lake well ahead of her competition. No surprise there. On the bike, though, her legs didn't feel strong but she managed to hold her lead all the way to T2. On the run, though. her legs died. They couldn't give her what she needed to keep Kort and Caryn in her rearview....
