by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Two first-time winners – a man from Columbia Heights, a woman from Duluth – were the top male and female winners of the 33rd annual Sartell Apple Duathlon held May 23.
Matthew Payne, 38, finished first in the race with a time of 1:20:46. It is the fifth time Payne ran and biked the “Apple.” Second was Patrick Parish, 30, Minneapolis; and third was Brooks Grossinger, 38, Meyer, Minn.
Elaine Nelson, 36, was the first woman to cross the finish line at 1:34:06. The second woman to cross the finish line was Suzie Fox, 32, Chaska; third was Kortney Haag, 36, Maple Grove.
The race involved a 5k run, a 33k biking course and another 5k run. The more than 200 duathletes who participated included mainly lone individuals who did all three courses, but there were also teams of two members (one doing the running, one doing the biking) and even some of three members (one running the first 5k, another doing the biking portion and yet another doing the final 5k).
Unlike some Apple dates that were gruelingly hot and humid, Saturday’s weather was pleasantly warm with a slight breeze and an overcast sky.
The participants hailed from cities throughout Minnesota and even from other states. The “Apple” is recognized as one of the best and most efficiently run duathlons in the nation.
Scores of duathletes came right from the greater St. Cloud area, including many from Sartell who excelled and placed among the top three in several of the age-and-gender categories.
The following Sartell participants were among the top three in the categories:
Males up to age 19: Nicholas Buiceag-Arama, 15, third place; Females ages 25-29: Emily Stenzel, 26, first place; Males ages 40-44: Ben Nemeth, 42, second place; Females ages 45-49: Audra Kulick, 46, second place; and Joan Karpel, 48, third place; Males ages 45-50: W. Scott Lindell, 48, second place; Females ages 50-54: Cindy Lewandowski, 53, second place; Females ages 55-59: Judy Januschka Murray, 56, first place; Males ages 55-59: Monty Steffens, 57, third place; Females 60-64: Pam Stevens, 62, second place; and Males ages 70-74: Daryl Stevens, 73, first place. (Daryl and Pam Stevens were long-time coordinators of the Sartell Apple Duathlon.)
Overall
14. Ben Nemeth, 42; 21. Jesse Westrup, 41; 28. W. Scott Lindell, 48; 43. David Buhl, 42; 55. Bill Corcoran, 43; 67. Monty Steffens, 57; 71. Shawn McGee, 40; 76. Stuart Swenson, 40; 78. Mike Murray, 56; 79. Adam Stevens, 32; 95. Samuel Francois, 39; 96. Cindy Lewandowski, 53; 97. Nicholas Buicag-Arama, 17; 98. Zach Nemeth, 13; 104. Timm Vedder, 41; 108. Will Nemeth, 13; 110. Emily Stenzel, 26; 112. John Wolfe, 44; 125. Judy Januschka Murray, 56; 129. Pam Stevens, 62; 131. John Meyerhofer, 41; 132. John Seiler, 51; 140. Bryan Burns, 38; 145. Kaleb Myhrwold, 17; 147. Bev Soukup, 54; 149. Henry Yang, 50; 151. Kelly Rider, 41; 155. Audra Kulick, 46; 156. Matt Perry, 43; 157. Amy Hedke, 32; 162. Daryl Stevens, 73; 171. Tammy Myhrwold, 57; 173. John Karpel, 48; 179. Krisie Widvey, 41; and 183. Lana Nelson, 42.
Teams
There were many Sartell teams that placed in the duathlon. Duo teams included those comprising two men, two women or coed. In addition, there were teams comprising three members.
The following are the Sartell teams that placed among the top three in their divisions:
Female Duos
Grade A Teachers, second. Members Shannan Houghton (runner), Jennifer Olson (biker).
Male Duos
Alex and Riley, second. Members Alex Nemeth (runner), Riley Halstrom (biker).
Duathletes grab their bikes for their grueling 33k biking portion of the Sartell Apple Duathlon.
A wave of runners-bikers sets off from the starting line at Sartell Middle School during the May 23 Sartell Apple Duathlon.
A duathlete, Chad Milner of Eden Prairie, leaves the bicycle-transition area after completing the first of two 5k runs. His bike portion of the Apple Duathlon was a 33k route. Milner finished in 11th place, overall, out of the 208 duathletes who completed the race.
Winry Richards of St. Cloud (left) and Rayna Dickhaus of Cold Spring play with their jump ropes just before the start of the Sartell Apple Duathlon.
