Tech triathlete focuses on being the best

After a memorable fall at the world championships in The Netherlands, she's on the cusp of reaching her goal.

St. Cloud's Lauren Steinke is one of the top triathletes in the country in her age group. Steinke, ...more

Submitted photo

She said she has learned a lot since focusing her athletic goals toward becoming the best triathlete she could be, in part since the accidental death of her father in 2015.

"It is possible to have a unique passion," Steinke said. "You should pursue it with everything that you have and keep working.

"If you enjoy it, see where it can take you. If you enjoy it, that's all that matters."

Steinke finished eighth in the world in her age group in the 2017 International Triathlon Union World Triathlon Grand Final on Sept. 17 in Rotterdam.

Competing in the age 16-19 Female AG Sprint Division, Steinke finished in one hour, 13 minutes, 59 seconds. She had a time of 11:38 in the swimming portion, then finished the bicycling portion in 36:30 before concluding with a 19:54 run.

Jasmin Eden Gray of Australia won the competition in a time of 1:11:12.

Steinke competed in a race that included more than 6,000 athletes in numerous divisions from all over the world,

"It was such a great learning experience," she said. "I was impressed with how official everything was.

"It was pretty cool."

Steinke had qualified for the world competition by placing high at a USA meet in New Orleans the previous fall.

Dad was a mentor

She ran her first triathlon at age 9 at her father's urging and got more serious as she got older.

Todd Steinke also competed. He died Sept. 5, 2015. He, his wife Cindy, and daughter Lauren were staying at a cabin with family on Cable Lake near Mentor in northern Minnesota, about 205 miles north of St. Cloud.

Todd Steinke

Submitted photo

Todd Steinke died after diving into the lake and breaking his neck, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

He dove into shallow water about 7:37 p.m. Sept., 5, according to authorities, who suspect Steinke hit his head on the bottom of the lake. An autopsy revealed he fractured his neck.

Family members dove into the lake and pulled him from the water. Paramedics were called, but Todd Steinke was pronounced dead at the scene.

Needless to say, it has made a lasting impression on Lauren Steinke, who saw it all unfold.

"It was hard at first to get back into the water," Steinke admitted. "I still don't feel all the way back from it.

"But it is was it is."

Difficult training

She has immersed herself in training. She typically puts in about 17-18 hours per week biking, swimming and running. That includes swims from 5:30-7:30 in the morning, about 25,000 yards. She'll run 20-30 miles per week and ride about 75-100 miles. "Sometimes more than that," Steinke said.

She's also an excellent student. And, she was a key member on Tech's cross country team. She placed 59th in the Section 8-2A championships in Fergus Falls in a time of 22:50.3. She admits cross country wasn't her primary focus.

"I mainly use it for training for triathlons," she said.

Steinke is focused on two triathlons this spring in Florida. They'll come while she is participating on Tech's track and field team.

Yes, she's busy.

Some would suggest the hectic pace is too arduous, that focusing on one activity might be easier. Steinke doesn't believe so.

"I like the diversity," she said. "I don't like to train for one thing.

"I really love it."

Follow Tom Elliott on Twitter @sctimestom or call 259-3661.

USA TRIATHLON MIDWEST RANKINGS

Rank, athlete, age, state, score

1. Lauren Steinke, 18, Minnesota, 99.362

2. Jaedyn Birchmier, 18, Iowa, 96.325

3. Hannah Bettendorf, 18, Minnesota, 92.072

4. Naomi Hill, 18, Iowa, 91.137

5. Katie Patrick, 19,South Dakota, 90.108

6. Rebecca Naughton, 19, Iowa, 89.531

7. Phelan Purnell, 19,Wisconsin, 88.633

8. kaytlin Garrison, 19, Minnesota, 88.580

9. Taylor Lundquist, 18, Minnesota, 87.094

10. Elena Coleman, 18, Missouri, 86.593

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