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"The Heart of Local Racing"...
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Tuesday, 05 May 2026 00:10
By Amy Preusser
The Tinman Triathlon in Morris celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, and it was a beautiful May day to race. With these early season races, you never know exactly what you’re going to get, weather-wise. It was my fourth year racing the Tinman, and there is a special kind of excitement in the air, as people set up their gear in transition. Many are re-connecting over their love of the sport after months of the off-season.
Going into this race, I was a little nervous. As is the case for many - my bike has remained solidly on the trainer most of the winter & spring. This race was only my third time riding outdoors for this calendar year! The day proved to be lovely cycling weather, but a bit windy.The roads were rough - but I was told that they’re being repaved over the summer! This is good news, because unfortunately for me, I hit a large pothole about 11 miles into my 19 mile ride. I knew immediately - my front tire was a goner. I was VERY lucky to not be in aero position as my tire went out, and I didn’t get hurt - which is the most important thing! I had a few tears on the side of the highway, then worked on getting in touch with a race director. This is where I got a glimpse into the inner workings of a local triathlon.
While I was standing on the side of the highway, I was reminded by how much goes into organizing local races. Putting these events together is a work of HEART, and countless hours are spent mapping courses, obtaining permits, marking roads, gathering volunteers,coordinating with police to block roads & control traffic, etc. As mentioned, it was my fourth year racing in Morris, and I’ve come to know many of the people who work hard to make the Tinman a success. Before long, a Jeep pulled up and...
Records Topple in Morris!
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Sunday, 03 May 2026 00:10
40th Tinman Triathlon - Micah Warning's victory at Timberman Internediate in 2025 was truly a "breakout" performance, one that put him squarely in the running for a Most Improved nonimation and a lofty spot on Team Minnesota. A late-season illness intervened, dashing those possibilities.
At Tinman yesterday Micah ascended to yet another level. Saturday's breakout dwarfed the one he rocked at Sugar Lake last July. Not only were his splits insane and his finish time (1:34:56!) well under the long-standing (16 years!) course record, he managed to outrace pre-race fave / two-time Triathlete of the Year nominee Spencer Syvertson, who also threw down a time (1:37:56) that made the previous CR look pedestrian.
Both Warning and Syvertson will be filing Tinman race reports, as will Nick Jasmer, who placed 4th yesterday behind bronze medalist Sam Hauck, who set a Masters Record (1:45:56), and 2025 women's champ Amy Preusser, who DNFed (flat) yet had much positive things to say about the event. She was en route to a PR and a 2nd place finish when her tire stopped cooperating. Her...
History Made at Maple Grove...
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Friday, 01 May 2026 00:10
2025 MAPLE GROVE OLYMPIC COVERAGE - Since his amateur win at Ironman Michigan 70.3 in 4:03:10, Sherwood, Wiconsin's TYLER TANKO has proven that he is capable of becoming one of a handful of amateur American men to ever crack the the four-hour mark at the half Ironman distance. He's proven that his Olympic credentials are elite as well. He came into Saturday's Maple Grove Olympic triathlon having finished 4th under extreme conditions two weeks ago at Milwaukee Nationals. What remained to be seen was how he would fare against three-time MGO champion / amateur course record holder PRESTON YOUNGDAHL and locally undefeated SPENCER SYVERTSON.
He fared well. Starting with the fastest swim of the day, and finishing with an uncontestable run (32:59!), Tyler sliced 2:24 off the ACR. His 1:50:24 was only 1:22 off TED TREISE's pro record set in 2022.
Syvertson (1:56:09) and Youngdahl (1:57:18) also dipped under the two-hour mark.
Also winning by a sizable margin was ELENA JASPER (2:09:48), who now owns a 1st, 2nd and 3rd at MGO. KATIE DEREGNIER (2:15:18) and TIFFANY KARI (2:16:25) rounded out the women's podium.
Perhaps the most impressive women's performance of the morning was turned in by 59-year-old JULIA WEISBECKER, who finished 4th overall in a remarkable 2:16:35 thereby solidfying her nonimation for 2025 Female Grand Master of the Year....
2026 Name-Dropping...
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Tuesday, 28 April 2026 00:10
Some things we'd like to see in 2026, along with a few predictions:
PRESTON YOUNGDAHL (photo) - Our state's runaway Triathlete of the Year in '22, '23 and '24, wherein he won 15 of the 19 races he entered, only raced twice in 2025. Willl he return to 2024 form this season?
NATHAN KIM - Minnesota's Triathlete of the Year 2025, we've watched Nathan's 70.3 personal best go from 4:41 in 2023 to 4:05 last year. Will he be our state's first amateur triathlete to legitimately post a sub-4?
PAIGE SCHULZ - Our female Triathlete of the Year in '25, she comes into this season with a 70.3 personal best of 4:34:48. Will she break 4:30 this year? He PR improved by eight minutes in 2024, and another six minutes last season. Impressive trajectory....
Tinman Turns 40!
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Sunday, 26 April 2026 00:10
2026 MORRIS TINMAN PREVIEW - Minnesota's tri season opener, the Morris Tinman Sprint and Olympic Triathlons, will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Saturday, May 2. We encourage athletes from our region--MN, ND, SD, IA--to use this fun event to knock off some winter rust. It's been a while since Tinman has drawn more than 100 participants but the early sign-up numbers are encouraging. We hope you help make that happen.
This year's Olympic race should be among Tinman's more competitive editions in recent memory. Here are some of the players who should lead the way:
SPENCER SYVERTSON - Spencer, who won this race in 2024 and set a Sprint record here in '23, has been in the running for Minnesota Triathlete of the Year the last two seasons. He won six of the eight tris he entered last year and we are predicting a course record time for Spencer on Saturday.
MICAH WARNING - Micah only raced twice in 2025, but he won both of those triathlons, one of which was his breakout effort at Timberman Olympic.
SAM HAUCK - Sam only raced once last year, and three times the year before, but he won two of those three events....
