Race Coverage
Becky Returns. She and Preston Did What They Do...
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Wednesday, 14 August 2024 00:10
Photo - Women's Olympic podium and a baby.
20th GREEN LAKE OLYMPIC coverage - Eleven men have broken 1:50 on GL's Olympic-esque (.75 - 22 - 6) course, though never more than three in a single year, and that happened back in 2012. At the very least, that was destined to be at least matched last Sunday. 2023 champ COREY NYGAARD, who is faster this year than last, JOE ADRIAENS, a consistent sub-2-hour guy at full Olympic distance, and the seemingly invincible PRESTON YOUNGDAHL, a late registrant who has won 10 of the 11 Minnesota tris he's entered since returning to his homestate in 2021.
Talent wasn't the only factor that portended fast times for the men. The conditions were perfect. Mild temps, low humidity, negligible wind, flat water.
Only two woman had ever broken two hours here, and it appeared on paper that times closer to 2:10 would land on the podium. Then, like Youngdahl, BECKY YOUNGBERG showed up on race morning. Becky is the course record holder here, having done so back in 2018. She came into the race with three wins in five starts this season. Though the clear favorite, there were several Green Lake vets, like two-time winner MERILEA OSTERLUND, and BECKY LEIS, a two-time runner-up here, hoping to round out the Top 3. Additionally, AMY PREUSSER, who has been turning in very solid performances for the last two seasons, was enrolled....
The woman expected to give Becky a push was 2023 Master of the Year nominee, KADIE HOKANSON, undefeated in two starts this season. Kadie was making her GLT debut and we were anxious to watch her race.
Men's Race:
One-two-three out of the water were Preston, Joe and Corey. Joe and Corey then proceeded to throw down 27-mph on the bike. Preston, though, was hammering a 28-mph pace. He wouldn't need to push his limits on the run to stay in front.
Youngdahl's time was ridiculous. 1:39:44, the second fastest men's time ever here.
Corey outran Joe for 2nd, turning in a personal best 1:42:03, which was 11-minutes better than his winning time last year. Joe notched 3rd in 1:43:12, rounding out the fastest men's podium ever witnessed here.
Women's Race:
As for Becky, she collected her fourth win of the season in the second fastest women's time yet: 1:58:22, bettered only by her 2018 effort.
Similarly unsurprising, Hokanson took 2nd. Her debut here produced a 2:06:10.
Preusser, 2nd behind Osterlund last year, took third (2:11:12, a huge PR), with Merilea taking 4th, 36-seconds behind Amy.
Husband and wife JEFF GILMER, 65, and MARY DEEG, 62, obliterated their respective AG records, Jeff by 11+ minutes, Mary by six minutes.
Seventy of the total 266 finishing athletes participated in the Olympic race. GL Sprint coverage will post on MTN Facebook page on Tuesday afternoon. OLYMPIC RESULTS
