Race Coverage

Preston & Caryn Prevail at MGT!

Wednesday, 28 August 2024 00:10

15th Maple Grove Triathlon Coverage – It took a Performance of the Year-type effort for PRESTON YOUNGDAHL to maintain his winning streak, which now stands at thirteen. His effort last Saturday at Maple Grove Olympic produced an amateur course record, one that was 1:07 faster than the ACR he set the previous year. During this epic run, his smallest margin of victory was 1:04, until last weekend, that is....

Preston's 1:52:48 last Saturday featured his signature monster bike split, which proved to be 1.5 mph faster than the next fastest rider, and he needed all of it in order to pull off a three-second win over Middleton, Wisconsin's NATHAN KIM, who is arguable the fastest rising male tri star in our region.

His victory at Chisago 70.3 certainly made us believers.

Kim, 22, a UM swimmer and star of the Gophers triathlon team, nevertheless claims Wisconsin as his home. The kid is a special talent, and he'll only get “specialer” with time. We'd love for him to relocate to Minnesota permanently.

While Preston and Nathan separated themselves from the field, the deepest assemblage of male tri talent for a Minnesota race this season, five other guys were pushing themselves to sub-2 hour times, starting with JOE ADRIAENS (1:56:04), who was followed across by PETER WIKMAN (1:56:16). Vastly improved TEVIN NEEGAARD (1:57:50) was next, then collegian JUDSON SCHULZ, 19, and SAM HAUCK, 40, turned 1:59s. Only Kevin O'Connor owns a faster Masters time (1:58:52 – 2014) than Sam at Maple Grove Olympic.

CARYN HERRICK has raced twice this season, and each time she has thrown down a Performance of the Year nomination-worthy effort. The first was at Chisago Olympic, a 2:10 on an extremely tough day. Most recently was on Saturday, where she posted a 2:05:09, 3:28 win over Wisconsin's MADDY BLAIN, who dominated the women's field at Brewhouse Olympic three weeks ago.

Blain finished a half-minute ahead of bronze medalist ELENA JASPER, creating a very formidable women's podium.

Outstanding AG results in the women's competition were turned in by ANDREA MYERS, 48 (5th – 2:16:45), CHRISTEL KIPPENHAN, 59 (11th – 2:20:12 – AGR!) and JAN GUENTHER, 65 (2:26:47 – AGR - 16-minute margin of victory!)

Just under 900 adult athletes registered for the Maple Grove races. MG Sprint coverage is posted on MTN's Facebook page. RESULTS

Top Photo - A great pic from a previous MGT.