Race Previews

Green Lake Turns 20!

Thursday, 10 August 2023 00:10

GREEN LAKE TRIATHLON PREVIEW - Like Northwoods, this great event is celebrating it's 20th anniversary this weekend. More than 300 athletes will be on hand to enjoy the event...

Here are some comments on the races, i.e. a 20-year-old Sprint, and a 17-year-old Olympic-ish (.75 - 22 - 6 miles), starting with the Sprint.

South Dakotan KEVIN MITCHELL has the credentials to repeat as Sprint champion. He's the only athlete currently enrolled who has broken the 1-hour mark, and he has done it twice. Clear favorite? Not necessarily. A teenage athlete name SEAN PICKLE should provide a stiff challenge. Sean was fifth here last year, some five minutes behind Mitchell, but the young man is MUCH faster this season. Not only that, he is coming off his first career tri win at Big Lake Sprint. 

Based on current enrollment, our men's podium is Mitchell, Pickle and CARSON ROEHL, who has Top 3ed here in the past.

We do have a clear pick to win the women's Sprint. It's STEPHANIE PETERSON, who has won two of the three refgional multis she's done this year. Three-time GL Sprint winner TERESA VAN HYFTE (SD) and BECKY LEIS are podium hopefuls.

Like Peterson,  we have a clear pick to win the men's Olympic race. And like Sean Pickle, he is coming off his first career win at Alexandria, and it was a doozie, a course record crusher. We're talking about COREY NYGAARD who should throw down a time in the 1:40s.

The other two Top 3 spots could come down to a battle between MICK QUINN, MICHAEL WENTE and 2021 winner JAY HALLIDAY.

2022 women's Olympic winner MERILEA OSTERLUND is returning, and barring any late registration surprises, should make it two-in-a-row.

Green Lake is an awesome event in an awesome location. You mat still be able to get in. RACE WEBSITE