This year's
Online Inline Marathon in Brainerd, Minnesota saw almost 200
skaters participate in a great Mid West race. Skaters came from
as far away as the west coast and Canada. Light winds and
cloudy conditions greeted the skaters for the 7:30 start. The
usual teams from Minnesota were represented including Adams
Inline, Flanders, Aloe Up (formerly Team Body Glide), SK8HARD
from
Duluth
and a lone skater from Bont North America/Rudy Project.
This year’s
event saw a course record set in 35:36. The attacks came early
with Tone Coughlin (SK8HARD/Bont) Jeff Terwilliger (ALOE UP)
Chad Johnston, Todd King (Flanders) and Randy Plett (Bont N.
America). All breaks were eventually pulled back by the field.
And as seems typical of this race it would come down to a field
sprint once again. The last mile of the course comes back into
the industrial park and has a few rough areas, but this did not
slow the speed. Brent Bovitz (Flanders) did a monster pull
coming home with King and Plett in tow. As the sprint was
winding up, Tone Coughlin (SK8HARD) gave a great lead out for
Plett (Bont) who snagged his first win of the season. Dave
Bartz (Flanders) and Chad Johnson (ALOE UP) were second and
third respectively.
A special
thanks to Terry Holm, Master skater extraordinaire for putting
this great race together again this year. Also to the many
sponsors who keep this sport going.
Complete results
Here.
Photos courtesy of Darlene
Prios, except *, courtesy Les Sova
