Race Coverage

A Great Way to Spend a Sunday...

Wednesday, 13 August 2025 00:10

22nd GREEN LAKE TRIATHLON Coverage - St. Cloud's GRETCHEN AMUNDSON (photo below) is an "occasional" triathlete who happens to be pretty darn good at this swim-bike-run thing. And when she decides to do a tri, it is always Green Lake. ...

When we said she was pretty darn good, we meant it. Gretchen, who according to her Facebook page loves both country and rock music, has won the last two editions of the GL Sprint, after a five year absence from the sport. She raced here in 2019 and 2018, too, finishing 4th (Sprint) and 5th (Olympic) respectively.

Gretchen represents a significant percent of GL attendees who have formed a special bond with the event, and it is the only race they'll do. We get it. Green Lake is a very cool experience. The expression "laid back" certainly applies, and the post race party at lakeside is especially awesome.

Gretchen's podium was filled out by silver medalist CASSIE NEMECEK from Minnetrista, and bronze medalist KARI ECHOFF, of nearby Willmar. 

Joining Gretchen on the Top Step for the second straight year was fellow St. Cloudian SEAN PICKLE, 20, who set a junior course record here in 2024. As then, he was followed to the finish line by South Dakota's prolific KEVIN MITCHELL, whose resume is chock-full of wins and Top 3s.

In the Olympic race, the battle for the women's title was expected to be between Melrose's AMY PREUSSER and North Dakota all-time most successful female triathlete MARNIE WALTH, now 56, but still very formidable. Those two did not disappoint. Amy hammered the bike portion, but Marnie's 23 mph and superior T1 transition kept her in front, that is until Amy slipped into her running shoes.

Amy nanaged to overtake Marnie and stride to what was arguably her finest performance of the season, if not her career. Her 2:03:52 is one of the event's Top 10 fastest women's times and landed her in 3rd-place overall on Sunday. Marnie's 2:07:15 set a record for women over 50. Exciting stuff.

The men's Olympic race, MICHAEL WENTE's superior bike split could overcome JACOB NIEMANN's faster swim and run splits, but Jacob's brisk transitions turned the tide in his favor. Ulimately, he came out on top by six skinny seconds. More exciting stuff.

Approximately 350 athletes participated, and the weather and air quality were favorable. RESULTS

Top Photo - Spicer's SHARON OLESON, 73, having more fun than people should be allowed to have.