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Masters Excellence - 2024 Edition...

Friday, 13 September 2024 00:10

In October MTN's two-man Minnesota Multisport Honors committee (Note: Simon & Grarfunkel are replacing last season's evaluators Matt and Damon) will announce their nominees for the 2024 MMH honors. Below are some of the Masters (Ages 40-59) guys who are being considered for the eventual  three nominations in this category....

DAN ARLANDSON, 48, Burnsville - Four starts. Three AG wins in branded 70.3 races. Concerns? He is a long course guy exclusively, so versatility isn't demonstrated like some the other potential MOY nominees. Also, we do not Age Grade athletes in their 40s, thus younger guys like Brandon Lee, who have faster LD times, have an edge.

JOSH BLANKENHEIM, 44, Duluth – Four starts. Three outright wins. One 2nd place overall. Three Masters Records. Concerns? None.

JASON CRISP, 44, Carlton – Three Starts. Two 2nds and a 3rd. Concerns? Yes. He finished behind Blankenheim in each race.

BROOKS GROSSINGER, 47, Mayer – Three finishes. One Win and two 2nds. Concerns? Finished behind Lee at Clearwater and Blankenheim at Northwoods.

SAM HAUCK, 40, Eden Prairie – Three starts. Two overall wins and a 7th (1st Master). Concerns? None. His 7th was against the deepest mens field of the year and he won the Masters division in the 2nd fastest Masters time in race history.

BRANDON LEE, 42, Lino Lakes – Five starts. Two outright wins, three 2nds and a 5th (1st Master). He owns the fastest 70.3 time—4:18:13 at Square Lake--for a Minnesota Master this season Concerns? Not really.

ROD RAYMOND, 59, Duluth – Three Starts. Overall results: A 2nd, 5th and 7th, all AG wins. Concerns? Yes. How do AG wins stack up against overall wins? Good question.

Next: Masters Women.