Celebrating 2025 Toni Award Nominees

Each year at YWCA Minneapolis Women’s Triathlon, we honor athletes whose courage, resilience, and advocacy embody the spirit of the Toni Award for Inspiration and Advocacy. This recognition celebrates not only achievement in sport but also the way athletes uplift others in their families, communities and beyond. 

This year’s nominees are remarkable individuals who inspire through both action and advocacy. 

Ashlie Kennedy  

Ashlie is a force of nature — a committed athlete, dedicated mother and tireless advocate. She is raising her four daughters to be thoughtful, compassionate and courageous, encouraging them to face difficult truths with confidence and justice. 

Ashlie has also turned personal tragedy into meaningful advocacy. After the stillbirth of her daughter, Blair, she worked to raise awareness for grieving families. She has testified at the Minnesota Legislature and to other organizations on the importance of paid family leave and prenatal medical checks. Ashlie’s resilience and determination make her a powerful role model for her family and community. 

Caroline McCard 

Caroline views obstacles as opportunities. Over more than a decade of triathlons, she has faced two knee replacements and a serious bike crash just weeks before the 2024 Women’s Triathlon. Despite these challenges, she not only competed but also achieved one of her best times. 

This year, she returns as both an athlete and a training captain, mentoring others and sharing her hard-earned experience. Caroline’s advocacy extends beyond athletics: she consistently uses her voice to support marginalized communities and stand up against injustice, modeling empathy, courage and compassion. 

Michelle Chestovich 

Photo courtesy of Mtech Results

Michelle races each year in memory of her sister, Dr. Gretchen Butler, under the banner of Team G. Gretchen, a beloved physician, died by suicide, leaving behind her husband and three children. 

In response, Michelle has dedicated her professional life to helping women physicians navigate stress, mental health and overwhelm — challenges that deeply impacted her sister. Through this work, she honors Gretchen’s memory while supporting others who face similar struggles. 

Suzanna Newell 

Suzanna embodies resilience and advocacy. After health challenges prevented her from competing last year, she continued to show up for others, cheering from the sidelines and offering encouragement despite her struggles. 

She has become a steadfast advocate for the vaccine-injured community, giving strength and visibility to voices that are often overlooked. This year, Suzanna returns to the course — not because every hardship has been resolved, but because she has reached a milestone of courage worth celebrating. She reminds us all that sometimes inspiration comes not from perfection, but from the act of showing up, again and again. 

Ryanne Mikunda 

Ryanne has faced significant medical and personal hurdles on her journey to triathlon. Born with congenital heart defects, she underwent multiple surgeries as a child and grew up believing long-distance sports weren’t possible for her. With the support of friends and her partner, she has worked through anxiety and OCD to participate in her first-ever triathlon. 

As a teacher of multilingual learners, Ryanne is also a fierce advocate for her students. She ensures newcomers to the U.S. feel supported, respected and valued, while honoring their home languages and cultures. Whether in the classroom or on the course, Ryanne inspires by giving her whole heart to those around her. 

Mari Ruddy 

Mari is unstoppable. She has battled cancer three times, lives with type-1 diabetes, and continues to show up with joy and determination. A longtime community leader, Mari is passionate about ensuring everyone knows they belong in athletics. 

Her belief that “everyone is an athlete” has inspired countless others to find confidence, connection and strength through sport. 

Kate Varns 

After suffering a stroke in 2024, Kate worked tirelessly to regain her ability to swim, bike, and walk with a crutch. A longtime triathlete and Ironman finisher, she returned to competition in 2025, showing what it means to persevere against daunting odds. 

Kate is also a vocal advocate for the power of athletics in recovery and in life. Her story of resilience has lifted countless others and embodies the very heart of the Toni Award. 

Honoring Toni’s Legacy 

The Toni Award for Inspiration and Advocacy honors the late Toni St. Pierre, a trailblazer who fought for women’s equity in sports long before Title IX. Toni inspired generations of athletes, and her spirit lives on in the nominees who follow in her footsteps — not only competing, but also lifting others along the way. 

We celebrate each of these nominees for their courage, advocacy, and inspiration. They remind us that triathlon is about much more than a finish line — it’s about community, resilience, and the power to lift others as we race forward together.