Race Previews
Apple Podium Picks - Men...UPDATED AGAIN...
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Saturday, 18 May 2019 23:10
37th APPLE DUATHLON - Today we are evaluating Apple's men's competition. We'll discuss the women's race in a future post.
Though they were not enrolled when we glanced at the registration list last week, we are assuming that past champions WADE CRUSER and JESSON BAUMGARTNER will be on the starting line next Saturday, where they will face another former winner, and current Duathlon National Champion, PATRICK PARISH.
These three guys will not be the only talented men in the field, not by a long shot, but we believe that unless, say, Michigan's World and National champion TODD BUCKINGHAM, who placed second here in 2018, shows up, that Jesson, Wade and Patrick will claim the podium spots and the prize money that goes with them.
Here are their highlights:
Oakdale Spring Classic Du Preview - Part II...
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Wednesday, 15 May 2019 23:10
OAKDALE SPRING CLASSIC DUATHLON - Who will lead the way at the 17th annual Oakdale Du this Saturday? That's hard to say. Elite athletes tend to register late.
So, who are some of the athletes that are not currently enrolled that might show up at Lake Elmo Park Reserve and take home awards? Perhaps last year's top two men and women will return. We're talking about Jacob Olsen, Jessop Keene, Christina Roberts and Diane Hankee.
Past champs Wade Cruser and Jenn Scudiero could be there, as could 2019 Duathlon National Champion Patrick Parish.
We'd love to see any or all of these national class athletes on the starting line, along with other stars who have rocked socks at Lake Elmo Park in the past, guys like Dave Koppel and Jordan Roby, and women like Katherine Lenglet and Shelley Ostrander.
Fingers crossed.
As for those who have committed to racing on Saturday, we are excited about the fast juniors who will be there....
2019 Oakdale Spring Classic Duathlon Stuff...
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Sunday, 12 May 2019 23:10
17th annual OAKDALE DUATHLON - The outdoor tri/du season is here and one of our state's classic events is slated for next Saturday. That event even has the word "classic" in it's name: the Oakdale Spring Classic Duathlon....
Morris Tinman Preview - Part II
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Monday, 06 May 2019 23:10
35th MORRIS TINMAN - We're expecting the men's performances at this year's Tinman races to be somewhat elevated. Though we don't know which of the races--Olympic or Sprint-- each of the guys we will be doing next Saturday, we will say that we expect them to race at the front.
- SPENCER SYVERTSON - An MSU grad and veteran Speedo-wearer from Paynesville, Spencer came close to receiving a Most Improved nomination last season, a year in which he won two triathlons. Only 22, guys like him sometimes make quantum performance leaps. We're picking him to win the race he enters at Morris.
- MICK BAKKER - A transplanted Minnesotan who has resided in Anchorage, Alaska for the last several years, Mick is a great guy and and talented triathlete. His Alaska results are impressive. A Tinman vet, he won the Olympic races in 2017 and 2015. In 2014 he raced at Perham, where he finished 3rd behind fellow elites Casey Miller and Branden Scheel.
TYSON MOLITER - Part of the triathlon-crazed Molitor family from Belgrade, Minnesota, Tyson placed 2nd at Morris Sprint in 2018. Other competitive highlights include podium finishes at last year's Graniteman races at Clearwater and Big Lake....
Morris Tinman Preview - Part I...
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Saturday, 04 May 2019 23:10
MORRIS TINMAN PREVIEW - In 2018, the MTN Guys encouraged Minnesota's tri and du athletes to attend in-state races that they have never done before, and especially rural events. The goal, of course, is to keep those events on the calendar, and to demonstrate that rural races are really awesome and deserve to be supported. Fantastic examples of terrific small-town events are Heart of the Lakes, Timberman, Northwoods and Green Lake.
Rural races that are a long drive from Minnesota's population centers are typically doomed to have rather small turnouts. While this is understandable, these races don't have to be too small, do they?. It is our goal to convince folks from The Cities, Duluth, Rochester, St. Cloud et al to add more "road trip" or "motel" races to their schedules.
Kicking off Minnesota's 2019 outdoor multisport season is the MORRIS TINMAN, which will celebrate it's 35th anniversary on Saturday, May 11.
Suggestions....
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Saturday, 27 April 2019 23:10
For decades, Minnesota's outdoor multisport season started in late April, but the rescheduling of the Morris Tinman (May 11) and the cancellation of the Falls Du has pushed the opener back two weeks.
At it's peak, our racing calendar boasted 83 annual multi races. Now that list is 40-races lighter. Bummer.
We can't afford to allow any more events to leave the calendar. We need to insure that the existing events endure.
How do we do that?
The MTN Guys suggest that every athete who can manage to do so, add at least one more Minnesota race to their schedule. If, for instance, two-thousand of our state's multisporters do that, that would be the equivalent of adding about 50 bodies to each of the current races....
