Locals Triumph at Lake Minnetonka Triathlon

After a one-year hiatus, the Lake Minnetonka Triathlon returned to Excelsior over the weekend. More than 430 athletes from throughout Minnesota and from as far away as California, Virginia and Florida competed in the race. 

Steve Sander of Richfield was the top overall finisher, completing the 18-mile course in 1:05:58. Sander, who also won the Lake Minnetonka Triathlon in 2009, recently became a dad for the first time and said Saturday's win would make his first Father's Day all the more memorable. 

"I seem to have a decent swim here every year, and the bike course is hilly enough to give me an advantage," he said. "The course is flat enough on the run so I can at least hold them off. I think the course really works well for me."

Saturday's course tested competitors with a half-mile swim, followed by a 14.5-mile bike ride and finally a three-mile sprint. Edina's top finisher was Mike Duggan, 42, who finished the triathlon in 33rd place with an overall time of 1:17:03. Gea Miller, 35, of Edina, wound up finishing in first place for the female 35-39 age group with a time of 1:23:08.

Ross Rogney founded the Lake Minnetonka Triathlon and said the limited number of race spots for this year's race filled up back in March. Rogney said he started the race as a way to give back to his home town of Excelsior.

"I did a race over in St. Paul, hated the course and thought I could do better here," he said. "I love my town, I live in the house I was born in, so I thought I'd bring a nice race back home, and it's been great."

Rogney estimated that somewhere between $50,000 and $70,000 has "been given back into the community" thanks to sponsors and friends of the race.

"One great thing about living in the same community for 50 years is you have lots of friends," he said. "They all come out."

Below are some of the Lake Minnetonka Triathlon's top Edina finishers. Complete results can be found here.

Mike Duggan 

1:17:03 

Rob Webb

1:22:45 

1:23:08

1:27:20

1:28:47

1:31:40

1:42:46

1:43:08

1:43:57

1:52:27

1:59:32