FEATURES
Preston & Caryn are 2024 Triathletes of the Year!
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Sunday, 01 December 2024 00:10
By Simon
2024 Minnesota Multisport Honors - Selecting the male and female recipients of the 2024 TRIATHLETES OF THE YEAR was easy-peasy (a cringy expression). Both selections were slam-dunks.
Men:
PRESTON YOUNGDAHL, 33, Plymouth -It's a three-peat for Preston. Only Matt Payne and Cathy Yndestad have earned more consecutive TOYs, and Youngdahl could match their streaks if he wins again next year.
In 2024, he continued to beundefeated against in-state competition, and most of his performances were POY nomination-worthy. (His CR at Maple Grove Olympic won the POY!). He also raced in Texas at Ironman 70.3 Waco, where he placed 4th overall (4:15:25).
Sean Cooley and Nathan Kim had awesome seasons and richly deserved their nominations.
Preston's Season:
1st @ Apple Triathlon - 1:10:47
1st @ Trinona Olympic - 1:55:37
1st @ Lake Minnetonka - 55:13...
Happy Thanksgiving From MTN!
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Wednesday, 27 November 2024 00:10
Heather & Preston are POY Winners!
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Monday, 25 November 2024 00:10
By Garfunkel
The 2024 triathlon season saw outstanding performances by established local elites and newcomers alike. A couple performances stood out from the rest though. These are Simon and my picks for the 2024 Performance of the Year.
Heather Lendway’s overall win at USAT Olympic-Distance Nationals:
Your 2013 and 2014 national champion became a three-peater in 2024. Her 2:07:11 was the fastest legitimate olympic-distance clocking by a Minnesota amateur woman since 2024. Winning this race is, quite literally, enough to earn a pro card if HL so chooses (and as she has done previously). Oh yeah, and she outraced her closest competitor by over two minutes.
Preston Youngdahl’s overall win at Maple Grove Olympic:
Maple Grove has become MN’s most competitive olympic-distance race and sees a great depth of talent, with racers looking to cap-off their season on its fast course. Previous champions include now-pro Ted...
Caryn & Tevin are 2024 Most Improved...
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Tuesday, 19 November 2024 00:10
By Simon
2024 Minnesota Multisport Honors - CARYN WIKMAN and TEVIN NEEGARD are our picks for 2024 Most Improved. MI was a difficult category, as strong cases coud be made for each nominee. Here's why Garfunkel and I chose Caryn and Tevin:
CARYN WIKMAN, 34, St. Louis Park - It blew our minds when researching Caryn's career resume that she has never won an MMH. She has made the Top 5 on Team MInnesota twice, yet never collected an individual category award, despite several nominations. This season she only raced three times, but all three were decisive wins and POY-worthy:
1st @ Chisago Olympic - 2:10:45 - Margin of Victory: 7:11 (8:48 behind men's winner!)
1st @ Maple Grove Olympic - 2:05:09 - Margin of Viictory: 3:28
1st @ Ironman 70.3 Madison - 4:37:47 - Margin of Victory: 3:18...
Josh & Becky Are 2024 Masters of the Year...
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Saturday, 16 November 2024 00:10
By Simon
2024 Minnesota Multisport Honors - Without much debate, Garfunkel and I agreed that JOSH BLANKENHEIM and BECKY YOUNGBERG are MTN's 2024 Masters of the Year. This was one of the easier categories to determine. Here's why:
JOSH BLANKENHEIM, 44, of Duluth, was the outright winner of three of the four Minnesota triathlons he did in 2024. He finished a very close 2nd in his only non-winning performance. Moreover, he was consistently fast in each race. His times were remininscent of those turned in by Minnesota Masters greats, Brian Bich, Matthew Payne and Kevin O'Connor. At Brewhouse, he was a close 2nd behind MI nominee Spencer Syvertson, who received serious consideration for a Triathlete of the Year nomination, then outraced Spencer at Lakes Country. Of the three male MOY nominees, Josh will have the highest placement on Team Minnesota.
We congratulate Sam Hauck and Brandon Lee on their nomination-worthy seasons. We especially commend Brandon for his versatility. He raced impressively at Sprint, Olympic and 70.3. ...
