(Pictured: Cathy Yndestad, Devon Palmer, Greg Taylor (top right) and Jan Guenther. Photos of Cathy & Devon are courtesy of Yndecam.com. Greg's photo provided by Kristen Taylor. Jan's pic provided by Denny Johnson.)Minnesota Tri News and Peace Coffee is proud to present its July Athletes of the Month:
OVERALL: Cathy Yndestad, 31, Apple Valley & Devon Palmer, 22, St. Paul
In July, Cathy won the prestigious Life Time Fitness Elite Triathlon for the fourth (!) consecutive year. The next weekend she blew away the women's long-standing Course Record at Heart of the Lakes / Minnesota State Triathlon Championships.
Like Cathy, Devon was victorious at Life Time Fitness Elite and Heart of the Lakes against the two deepest fields that will be brought together for a Minnesota event this year. In fact, LTF had arguably the deepest amateur field of any triathlon staged in the U.S. thus far in 2009. Palmer's time at HOLT was the fastest amateur men's clocking since 1995.
AGE GROUP: Jan Guenther, 50, Mound & Greg Taylor, 55, Mankato
In July, Jan crushed the 50-54W course record at Heart of the Lakes and placed 4th overall. She then turned in the 2nd fastest (unofficial) 50-54W half IM effort (4:36:05) of All Time at Chisago Lakes.
Taylor not only won his division at Timberman and cracked the overall Top 10, his time (2:06:23) was the fastest masters clocking of the day. At Chisago he finished an amazing 16th overall in 4:21:03. Had the course been the precise 1.2-56-13.1 distance, his time would have been in the 4:27-4:28 range, which would have bettered Carlos Luis Ribiero's' 55-59M World Best Time (4:29:37) by almost two minutes.
Other AG considerees: Jeanne Fleck, 44, Proctor; Ben Ewers, 63, North Oaks & Nick Madrinich, 19, Chaska.
Yndestad, Palmer, Guenther and Taylor will receive Columbian Heavy Pedal Coffee, courtesy of Peace Coffee.
PAST WINNERS:
* June Overall - Kevin O'Connor & Cathy Yndestad
* June AG - Ben Ewers, 63 & jan Guenther, 50
* May Overall - Matthew Payne & Marlo McGaver
* May AG - Todd Firebaugh, 47 & Jan Guenther, 50
Eligibility Criteria: Athletes must turn in a minimum of two outstanding performances during the month. Athletes age 19 & under and 40 & over are eligible for AG award consideration.
Three members of the Minnesota Multisport Awards Selection Committee--Heidi Keller-Miler, Stephen Bullard and Jerry MacNeil--serve on the MTN AOM Selection Committee.
