Race Previews
Payne Train Bound For Chisago...
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Thursday, 27 July 2017 23:10
CHISAGO SPRINT PREVIEW - PATRICK PARISH set the men's race record--1:15:17--back in 2010. Will that mark stand for another year?
Not if MATTHEW PAYNE (photo) has his way.
Payne is a two-time winner of the Chisago Half, and will be making his sprint debut on Sunday. The four-time Minnesota Triathlete of the Year is anxious to return to his winning ways. Misfortune has been getting in the way lately. Leading at Lake Waconia last month, Matt made a wrong turn. That was followed by a bike crash at HOLT.
He needs a great performance to get his mojo back. Besides, a win would be a major milestone: the 50th of his tri/du career.
If Matt is on top of his game on Sunday, he might do more than just re-setting the amateur record. If he is able to go faster than 1:13:50, he will have managed to beat the event's pro mark, which was set in 2014 by DAN HEDGECOCK.
It always helps to get a good push when you're aiming at setting records. Based on the last reg. list we saw, a pair of Andys--WIBERG and ZABEL--will be vying for podium spots, as will CHRIS TATTON. 2016 Junior of the Year MITCHELL CLAYTON, who is fresh off his win at Buzz Ryan, could find a place in the Top 5 when all is said and done next weekend....
But what if Payne has to settle for just a solid race, i.e. a non-CR-setting victory? Well, Matt is 40 now, and should at the very least lower SCOTTY PENTICOFF''s seven-year-old MR (1:16:58).
The women's race will be interesting. Several ladies have a shot at the top prize, some of them elite masters, like JENNIFER FITHARRIS-FUNK, ANNE GRABOWSKI and JODY QUESNELL. Then there's KATHERINE LENGLET, 29, the Minneapolis Sprint winner who is having her best season ever. Barring the late registration of fellow elite athletes, we think that, based on their performances thus far in 2017, Lenglet and Quesnell will battle for the win.
