Two Knox County Athletes Crowned Winners At Dam Race

Two Knox County athletes were crowned the overall winners of Crofton’s 2nd Annual Dam Race on Saturday.

Tyler Janssen of Crofton and Jackie Freeman of Bloomfield earned first place in the individual male and female triathlons. It was Freeman’s second-straight championship.

The 2019 race — a triathlon that featured a 1.5-mile kayak route, a 5K run and a 12-mile bike ride — was the biggest one to date. Competitors also had the option of running a half marathon or racing in a 12-mile bike ride.

“We had more than 130 athletes this year, which is more than double the entries we had in our first year,” organizer Heidi Marsh said. 

The unique triathlon event began at the Weigand beach, located north of Crofton. Competitors started by kayaking around buoys set up on Lewis and Clark Lake, running through the Weigand campground and biking on roads over the hilly terrain into Crofton.  

Jane (Steffen) Wright, 69, of Idaho was the oldest competitor in the race and the youngest was Karson Vander Ziel of Iowa.

The top three winners in each division were recognized:

Men’s Triathlon 
Overall: 1. Tyler Janseen, Crofton, 1:28:30.67; 2. Jason Orr, Yankton, So.Dak, 1:32:32.58; 3. Craig Marsh, Crofton, 1:33:07.28. 14-19: 1. Karson Vander Ziel, Rock Valley, Iowa, 1:43:53.72; 2. Ashton Higgins, Neligh, 1:50:05.35; 3. Griffin Claussen, Neligh, 1:52:10.80. 20-29: 1. Jake Neuhalfen, Crofton, 1:39:17.44; 2. Sam Anderson, Hartington, 1:43:24.65; 3. Tanner Schumacher, Sioux Falls, So.Dak., 1:47:00.42. 30-39: 1. Devin Anderson, Yankton, So.Dak, 1:41:42.11; 2. Ken Kopetsky, Yankton, So.Dak, 1:41:42.28; 3. Trevor Teadtke, Niobrara, 1:42:01.74. 40-49: 1. Mark Nielsen, Omaha, 1:51:06.57; 2. Shannon Hendren, Neligh, 2:03:09.04; 3. Brady Marlow, Lincoln, 2;04:17.96. 50-59: 1. Jeff Steffen, Crofton, 1:42:15.01; 2. Neal Neuhalfen, Crofton, 2:02:09.58; 3. Duane Schumacher, Bloomfield, 2:09:50.37. 60 & Over: 1. Neil Kirby, Elkhorn, 1:43:08.80; 2. Terry Osborn, Valentine, 1:55:18.75. 

Women’s Triathlon
Overall: 1. Jackie Freeman, Bloomfield, 1:35:52.69; 2. Glenda Bittner, Sioux Falls, So.Dak, 1:37:54.93; 3. Whitney Podzimek, Avon, So.Dak., 1:38:45.76. 14-19: None. 20-29: 1. Dayjia Castillo, Yankton, So.Dak, 1:56:58.74.30-39: 1. Jenna Ranek, Tyndall, So.Dak, 1:40:08.46; 2. Whitney Delforge, Yankton, So.Dak., 1:42:07.31; 3. Jayna Wagner, Tabor, So.Dak., 1:49:30.50. 40-49: 1. Melanie Hartung, Laurel, 1:43:44.89; 2. Dawn Sherlock, Lincoln, 1:49:28.59; 3. Lisa Vander Ziel, Rock Valley, Iowa, 1:57:07.23. 50-59: 1. Karen Huston, Fremont, 1:51:50.09; 2. Sheila Loecker, Fordyce, 1:58:03.21; 3. Mary Spreng, Arion, Iowa, 2:05:10.80. 60 & Over: 1. Jane Wright, Star, Idaho, 2:10:07.33; 2. Marilyn Davie, Denison, Iowa, 2:15:11.07. 

Team Relay: 1. 116, Wayne, 1:25:36.49; 2. The Van Heeks, Crofton, 1:36:54.28; 3. Two Blondes and a Brunette, Crofton, 1:38:36.73.

Youth Relay: 1. Young Warriors, Crofton, 1:49:12.84.

Half Marathon
Men’s Overall: 1. Joshua Monson, Yankton, So.Dak, 1:30:25.83; 2. Darrin Pater, Adrian, Minn., 1:55:35.36. Women’s Overall: 1. Jennifer Bauer, Niobrara, 1:51:47.27; 2. Moriah Bullerman, Adrian, Minn., 1:55:35.72; 3. Lacy Donnelly, Elk Point, So. Dak., 2:22:06.34.

12-Mile Bike
Men’s Overall: 1. Dave Fosbinder, Fremont, 44:56.19; 2. Joe Guenther, Omaha, 58:24.67; 3. Martin Drueke, O’Neill, 1:02:25.47. Women’s Overall: 1. Beth Rye, Yankton, So.Dak., 45:43.17; 2. Jolene Steffen, Crofton, 49:36.79; 3. Julie Meirose, Hartington, 1:19:01.84.

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