(Photos: Marlo McGaver and Tim Hola)
(Chisago City, MN - July 21, 2009) Jonathan Balabuck's race record--4:05:48, set in 2006--is solid, but probably not solid enough to stand for another year.
Why?
David Thompson, Tim Hola and Jeremy Sartain. And these guys are certain to get a great push from last year's runner-up Mark Carey, and a young man named Alex Hooke, who seems poised for a breakthrough. Let's grow this list with names of Wisconsinites Jeff Tartowski and Mike Lavery.
Julie Hull's course best 4:37:13 is also very solid. It might stand for another year, but it will be seriously challenged on Sunday by decorated Wisconsin pro Heather Haviland, 2006 winner and '08 runner-up Marlo McGaver, Utah-based pro Jolene Wilkinson, and a pair of tremendously talented triathletes who will be making their half IM debuts at Chisago: Kortney Haag and Marnie Walth. Julie, who raced at Racine last weekend, will not be on-hand to defend her title.
In the sprint course race, it looks like defending women's champ Katherine McCann and her friend and training partner Susan Williams will be the girls to beat. For the men, Scott Penticoff and Josh Blankenheim appear to be the top guys.
UPDATE: We have just learned that 2009 Minnesota Rookie of the Year runner-up Patrick Parish will participate in the Chisago Lakes Sprint. Patrick has raced brilliantly this year and certainly deserves the role of favorite.
Here's a peek at the half IM highlights of some of the favorites:
David "DKT" Thompson, 31, St. Paul
* 1st @ Pigman '07 (3:58:17), '06 (3:59:35), '05 (4:02:55), '01 (4:11:44 -LC Debut)
* 1st @ Spirit of Racine '07 (3:50:56)
* 1st @ 5430 Half '07 (3:49:38)
Tim Hola, 35, Highlands Ranch, CO
* 2009 - 1st amateur/7th overall @ Buffalo Springs Lake 70.3
3rd amateur @ Kansas 70.3, California 70.3 & Wildflower
* Career - 1st @ 2005 US Half Championship
1st amateur @ Wildflower '05, Buffalo Springs lake '05, '06, '08, '09 Kansas 70.3 '08, Ironman Florida '05 (Ironman PR - 8:52:04 - Florida '07)
Jeremy Sartain 35, St. Paul
* 1st @ Liberty Half '07 (4:11:17)
* 1st @ Chisago Lakes Half '07 (4:06:59)
* 1st amateur @ Pigman Half '07 (4:11:45)
* 3rd @ Chisago Lakes Half '06 (4:22:30) - Half Debut
Mike Lavery, 24, Madison, WI
* 2nd @ 2009 High Cliff Half (4:15:57)
* 3rd @ 2009 Spirit of Racine (4:03:51)
* 4th @ 2009 Rockman Half (1st amateur)
Mark Carey, 38, Rochester
* 1st @ Pigman Half '99
* 1st @ Rockman Half '07 (4:18:46), 2006 (1st amateur)
* 2nd @ Chisago Lakes Half '08 (4:10:56)
* 3rd @ US Half Championships '04, Chisago Lakes '07 (4:16:13)
* 4th @ Pigman Half '04, Pigman Half '06
* 5th @ Rockman Half '08, Pigman Half '07
Alex Hooke, 25, Rochester
* 4th @ 2009 Liberty Half (4:20:36)
* 11th @ 2006 New Jersey Devilman (4:24:19)
* 31st -1st 20-24M @ Eagleman 70.3 '07
Jeff Tartowski, 36, Green Bay, WI
* 1st amateur/2nd overall @ 2009 High Cliff Half (4:01)
Marlo McGaver, 38, Duluth
* 1st @ Liberty Half '07 (4:58), 2006 (4:41:53)
* 1st @ Square Lake Half '07 (4:33:26)
* 1st @ Chisago Lake Half '06 (4:50:04)
* 1st amateur / 2nd overall @ 5430 Half '06 (4:34:19)
* 2nd @ 2008 Chisago Lakes Half (4:41:17)
* 5th amateur @ 5430 Half (4:42:28)
Heather Haviland, 36, Waukesha, WI
* 1st @ Pigman Half '01 (4:42:52)
* 2nd @ Cutting Edge Half '04 (4:43:35)
* 3rd @ Spirit of Racine '05 (4:48:14)
* 3rd @ Ironman Wisconsin '05 (10:24:24)
* 4th @ Rockman Half '09 (4:48:45)
* 4th @ Ironman Wisconsin '07 (10:06:27)
* 6th @ Spirit of Racine '06 (4:40:39)
* 6th @ Muncie Endurathon '04 (4:31:30)
* 7th @ Eagleman 70.3 '05 (4:39:50)
* 8th @ St. Croix 70.3 '05
Jolene Wilkinson, 36, Park City, UT
* Jolene is a two-time 20-24W World Champion & former Junior National Champ. She is also a two-time winner (and former course record holder) at the Columbia Triathlon.
* 3rd @ PlayTri Half '08 (4:45:03)
Becky Burdick, 38, Plymouth
* 1st @ High Cliff Half '04
* 2nd @ Square Lake Half '02
* 4th @ Square Lake Half '05 & '01
* 6th amateur @ Ironman Florida '06 (10:20:13)
* 7th @ Chisago Lakes Half '08 (4:54:42)
Kortney Haag, 30, New Hope
* Chisago Lake will be Kortney's first half. Kortney was the Minnesota Rookie of the Year in 2008. Here are her 2009 highlights:
* 1st @ Buffalo Olympic
* 2nd @ Heart of the Lakes
* 4th @ Life Time Fitness Elite
Marnie Walth, 40, Bismarck, ND
* Like Kortney, Marnie will be making her LC debut at Chisago Lakes. Nevertheless, Walth, like Haag, comes into the event as one of the favorites.
* Career Highlights include wins at: The Apple, Heart of the Lakes, Lake Waconia, Timberman & Square Lake Sprint. She was 2nd at Life Time Fitness Elite in 2007 and 4th later that year at the Dallas US Open Elite Championship.
Pam Nielsen, 33, Minnetonka
* 3rd @ Liberty Half '09
* 8th @ Liberty Half '08
* 12th amateur @ Ironman Arizona '08 (10:37:38)
