Future Illini wins again

CHAMPAIGN — Michelle Mehnert’s fifth consecutive win at the Champaign Park District’s Mini-Tri will be her last.
That bit of news should delight the scores of competitors who have tried unsuccessfully to keep up with the soon-to-be-Illini over the years.
“This was my last one,” the 18-year-old Urbana Uni High product said Saturday after dominating the women’s division — again. “I’m going to be moving on, but it’s been fun.”
Mehnert finished in 37 minutes, 10.4 seconds. It marked the fifth triathlon this summer in which she won her age division.
“This is my little party at the end of my season,” Mehnert said.
Later this month, Mehnert will enroll at the University of Illinois. She plans on majoring in civil engineering and joining the UI’s swim team as an invited walk-on.
Mehnert, a former News-Gazette All-Area Cross-Country Player of the Year, had scholarship offers in cross-country but decided to stay in C-U, where she also will join the UI’s club triathlon team.
Does she have a future in the sport?
“It’s like swimming: there are a few people who make a career out of (triathlons),” Mehnert said. “I’d love to be sponsored, and I’m not far from getting that. But I want to stay eligible, so I’ll put that off until I graduate from college.”

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