The 2016 Graniteman Triathlon series came to a close in Big Lake Sunday. A total of 283 athletes participated either individually or as a team, with 166 male and 117 female athletes. All stages of the triathlon started and finished at Lakeside Park.

 

The Graniteman Triathlon series kicked off June 5 in Buffalo, which has hosted a Graniteman triathlon since 2004. The second in the series was Clearwater on July 15, which has also hosted a Graniteman since 2004. And the last in the series is Big Lake, which has hosted since 2010, and has become a Minnesota favorite.

 

“Our story we’re sticking to is this is a party and a triathlon broke out,” said Bill Corcoran, as he addressed the participants before the event began.

 

Before the race began everyone participated in a pre-race prayer, followed by the National Anthem. The Olympic distance participants began at 9 a.m. while the Sprint participants started at 9:15.

 

The Olympic course consisted of a .9 mile swim in Big Lake, then a 24.6 mile bike race that stretched as far east as Meadowvale Road in Elk River, and finishing the race with a 6.2 mile run went all the way around both Big Lake and Mitchell Lake. Sixty six athletes participated.

 

The print course had a 1.3 mile swim, 15 mile bike race, and a 5K run. 217 participated in this version of the triathlon.

 

Starting off the race was the swim in Big Lake, sheriff’s boats and Graniteman volunteers protected the course, as did some lakeside residents. 

 

Lauren Steinke (age 16; from St. Cloud) won the sprint swim with 8:07 on the clock, and was followed closely behind by Bella Buenting (13; Chanhassen) with 8:12. Haley Chatelaine (22; Lakeville) was third with 8:16. The first male sprint swimmer, and 4th overall,  was Parker Roehl (18; St. Bonifacius, MN) with a time of 8:17 followed by Kyle Swenson (14; Rogers) with 8:26 and Nathan Overby (36; Big Lake) with 8:28.

 

David Holden (47; Hudson, WI) was the first Olympic distance swimmer to finish with 19:57, followed by Don Steenson (45; Plymouth) with 22:12 and Bucky Badger (31; Maple Grove) with 24:10. Kelly Trom (29; Minneapolis) took 4th overall in swim and first for the female swimmers with 24:41, followed by Lauren Anderson (26; Maple Grove) with an even 25:00.

 

Transition from swim to bike proved to be a challenge as many bikers found trouble mounting. There were a few rear-end collisions, but none that resulted in injury. 

 

Wade Cruser (29; Sauk Rapids) won the sprint bike segment with 33:18, followed by Greg Drummer (45; Minneapolis) with 34:19. Jennifer Neuman (46; Ramsey) placed 16th overall but first for the females with 38:13, and Cheri Bates (44; Sauk Rapids) placed 19th overall and second among females with 38:15.

 

The Olympic bike segment winner was David Holden with 1:00:17, followed by Alex Schad (44; Sauk Rapids) with 1:02:28, and David Koppel (29; Plymouth) with 1:03:44. Kelly Trom placed ninth overall and first among female bikers with 1:06:56. Sheena Dauer (34; Montevideo) placed 16th overall and second of 19 female Olympic bikers with 1:09:14, and Naomi Hammer (41, Orono) was third of females and 22nd overall with 1:10:11.

 

Finishing the bike segment found to be just as challenging as the start, some bikers found their speed too fast and fell, but again, no injuries, other than perhaps some pride. After dismounting the participants prepared for the final segment, the run.

 

Wade Cruser would win the 5K run with 17:35, followed by Casey Miller (37; Baxter) in 2nd with 17:49 and Nicholas Teetzel (24, Corcoran, MN) in 3rd with 18:44. Lauren Steinke placed first among females with 20:41, placing ninth overall. Megan Rose (32, Sartell) placed 2nd among females with 21:50 and placed 24th overall. Brenda Trok (37, Maple Grove) rounded out the female’s top 3 with 22:23 and 33rd place finish overall. 

 

The Olympic six-mile run was won by David Holden with 39:00, 2nd place was John Kallemeyn (31; Big Lake) with 39:03. Sheena Dauer placed 3rd and won for the female participants with 39:52, followed by Kelly Trom in sixth overall with 42:45.

 

Wade Cruser was the winner of the sprint triathlon with 1:01:49, followed by Casey Miller with 1:03:13 and Greg Drummer with 1:04:52. In 26th and the winning female was Jennifer Neuman with 1:14:49, followed by Brenda Trok in 27th with 1:15:27 and Lauren Steinke in 36th with 1:17:10.

 

David Holden won the Olympic triathlon with 2:00:52 with David Koppel on 2nd (2:14:46) and Kelly Trom 3rd (2:16:48). Sheena Dauer would place 6th overall and 2nd among females with 2:21:54.

 

The 2017 Graniteman Triathlon series will held at Clearwater Sat, July 8 while the Big Lake race will be Sat Aug 5. A date for the Buffalo race has not been announced.