(Julie Hull will be the clear favorite at IGBD on Sunday.)
The 5th annual Iron Girl - Bloomington Duathlon will be contested on Sunday, September 27. Attracting a record 1231 registrants, it will be without many of its usual elite suspects thanks to the fact that the ITU Duathlon World Championships in Concord, NC, are contested on the same weekend. The most noticeable absentee will be three-time champion Marlo McGaver. Also missing will be masters record holder Jeanne Fleck, who like McGaver will be mining for precious metal at Worlds, as well as 2005 IGB champ and perennial podium finisher Sarah Kolpin, who recently relocated to Pittsburgh.
This is not to suggest that the event is talent-free. Leading the way will be 2008 and 2007 runner-up Julie Hull of Farmington. Hull, a shoo-in once again for a Minnesota Duathlete of the Year nomination, should pick up her third du victory of the year on Sunday. Suzie Finger of St. Louis Park, Ann Snuggerud of Chaska, Plymouth's Cindy Blackstock and Stephanie Skladzien of Madison, Wisconsin, will fight over the other two podium spots.
