Race Previews

2017 Minnesota State Tri Championship...Updates...

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HEART OF THE LAKES PREVIEW - The 32nd edition of this venerated event will happen next Sunday. (In case you didn't know, HOLT's long course race has been the "Minnesota State Triathlon Championsip" for the last twenty-three years.)

The main purpose of ths preview is to entice our state's tri community to do this race, as it is the only multisport event on the July 15-16 weekend. HOLT has always been a come early / stay late party and we'd like the 2017 version to be huge.

Lovingly produced and possessing a wonderfully prideful small town vibe, Heart of the Lakes  is not just one of our state's premier swim-bike-runs, it is one of the best in the entire Midwest. If you haven't done this event yet, please register ASAP. You're sure to be...

positively imprinted by the experience.

Let's drop some names. We enjoy making predictions, and being wrong is part of the fun. The goal is to get folks interested in the competition.

We are especially excited about the women's long course field. In alpha order, here are some of those who are expected to set the pace:

- ERIN FARRENS - Erin is coming off a breakout season in 2016, where she rightfully earned the Most Improved award and finished 2nd in the voting for Long Course Athlete of the Year. Erin hasn't raced here since 2005, when she placed 4th.

- SUZIE FOX - Fox won HOLT in 2014 and 2012, and has two other podium finishes here. She was Minnesota's Triathlete of the Year in 2015, the season she won eleven races. Her last two years, while impressive, have been marked by injury. Will she bounce back on Sunday? We sure hope so.

- DIANE HANKEE - Diane won this race in 2013, and is coming off her best year ever in 2016. She is also racing like a banshee this season, with two wins in five starts. A win on Sunday would be the 32nd of her multisport career. We see here as a co-favorite.

- CHRISTINA ROBERTS - The other co-favorite is Christina, whose 1:41 in 2015 stands as the fastest amateur women's time here since Cathy Yndestad set the course record (1:39:16!) in 2009. Roberts is coming off a big win at Timberman, and a W on Sunday would be a milestone: Career win #15.

- MAGGIE WEISS - Runner-up for Rookie of the Year in 2016, a season in which she surprised everone with her 3rd place finish here. Maggie did not have a satisfying performance last weekend at Minneapolis, and will be hungry for redemption. 

Based on the current list, and knowing that the elite field will likely expand in the next few days, here are our men's podium picks (in alpha order):

- JOSH BLANKENHEIM -  Josh's best finish here is a 2nd in 2015. He has placed 2nd in his last two races (Liberty Olympic and Lake Waconia). In our opinion, he'll be racing for 2nd on Sunday, his chief competition for the spot will be Kevin O'Connor. He beat KO here in 2016 and 2015, but was beaten by him on the other two times they faced each in the last two seasons.

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- KEVIN O'CONNOR - Of all the men racing on Sunday, KO has the fastest PR - 1:28:17, which he posted in 2009. He and Blank should have an epic battle for the 2nd and 3rd spots.

- MATTHEW PAYNE - Payne has won this race for the last three years, and yes, we think he'll four-peat. As if he needs further motivation to claim another State Championship title, a win on Sunday would be the 50th of his career.

The competiton for AG state titles will, as always, be fierce. Here are some of our picks:

- 15-19W - ALLISON CRUM

- 40-44W - ANDREA MYERS

- 45-49M - GREG DUMMER

- 55-59M - TONY SCHILLER 

- 55-59W - JAN GUENTHER 

- 60-64M - LEN KLUN

- 60-64W - PAM STEVENS (Should be another tight race between Pam and Helen Gunther)

- 65-69W - DEB ROBERTS (She'll get a strong push from Lisa Wheeler)

And let's not forget HOLT's short course race, which will be a supersprint this year (road construction). We're picking MIKE BUENTING to win, with the women's crown going to a fast 45-49W. JEN NEUMAN, ANNE SNUGGERUD and ANNE GRABOWSKI could, in any order, form the podium. We hope that past champ JODY QUESNELL, 49, signs up, making it possible for 45-49s to sweep the Top 4 spots.

We'll also be keeping a close eye on the junior girls. Lots of talent, including ISABELLA BUENTING, 14, TAYLOR LUNDQUIST, 17, and SIMONE LUNDQUIST, 15. For the boys, NATHAN BICH, 18, appears to be the junior favorite.

If you haven't enrolled, we encourage you to do so at your earliest opportunity. READ MORE

Top Photo - 10-time HOLT champ Tony Schiller and 2016 HOLT Sprint winner Kristina Swenson.

Page 2 Photo - 2015 men's podium (L-R) - Kevin O'Connor, Matthew Payne and Josh Blankenheim.

 

UPDATE - Several elite amateurs have been added to HOLT's start list: SEAN COOLEY, NATHAN ANSBAUGHDAVID HOLDEN, LISA LENDWAY, JORDAN ROBY and KELLY TROM. We're especially anxious to witness the epic battle between Payne and Cooley.

 

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