(Photo: Jeremy Sartain at Chisago. He should pick up his 11th career win at Lake Phalen on Sunday.)
The St. Paul Triathlon' s course records * are very solid, and shouldn't be disturbed on Sunday. This is not to suggest that the fields assembled for the 4th running of this event are talent-free. In the sprint, for instance, Red Wing's Jesse Nelson and St. Paul's Anton Pshon should, weather permitting, crack the one hour barrier. St. Louis Park's David Binsfield may do so as well. White Bear Lake's Amy Klosterman is having a great year and could pick up her 2nd win of the season at Lake Phalen. The closest women to the 1:10 mark should win. (Amy posted a 1:12 last year.)
Maple Grove's Harold Doise, who was victorious at Graniteman last month, and UMM-Tinman champ Jason Midgarden of Golden Valley, appear to be the men to beat in the Olympic-distance contest. On paper, Doise has a slight edge--he out-raced Jason in their only head-to-head meeting at Chisago--but he may bring some post-Pigman fatigue with him to the starting line on Sunday.
And let's toss darkhorse Jim Felling of River Falls into the mix. We see a tight race unfolding. Should be interesting.
As for the women, Hopkin's Lydia Novotny should go off the front, leaving Madison, Wisconsin's Karla Bock, Chaska's Ann Snuggerud and St. Paul's Kathryn Jensen to fight over the other two podium spots. A win would be the 3rd of the season and the 2nd in 8 days for Novotny.
* St. Paul Sprint Course Records:
- 57:46 - Devon Palmer (2007)
- 1:05:28 - Erin Manlove (2008)
* St. Paul Olympic Course Records:
- 1:53:27 - Brett Lovaas (2007)
- 2:10:42 - Katherin McCann (2007)
UPDATE: St. Paul's Jeremy Sartain and Minneapolis' Sarah Viamonte have been added to the St. Paul Olympic start list. Jeremy immediately assumes the role of men's favorite. Sarah can be expected to vie for a podium position.
