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SPRINGFIELD — They came from New Zealand, Brazil, Germany, California and Canada, but the man who won this year’s Ironman 70.3 Western Massachusetts ended up biking through the town where he lives and running through the park where he played sports as a child.
Agawam firefighter Mike Consolini broke the tape in Springfield following a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run on Sunday, besting his time from last year when he finished third in the event.
His wife, Melissa Consolini, who also competes in triathlons, works at Baystate Health in Springfield. Watching from the sidelines with their 5- and 6-year-old daughters, she said she believes being a hometown competitor gave her husband a slight advantage, since he has trained on the route and knows where he might pick up a little time.
“We are very much part of this community, so it is a little more special,” he said.
This is the fourth year the Ironman Group, which is owned by Advance, the parent company of The Republican and MassLive, has held the competition in Western Massachusetts, drawing 1,424 competitors, said Roland Nel, race director.
It is also the second time in two years that the 1.2-mile swim in the Connecticut River was canceled because high bacteria levels caused by sewage overflows that took place after thunderstorms Saturday night.
“Unfortunately from a weather perspective, it is hard to control that,” Nel said. “We were disappointed, but a lot of the athletes stopped and said, ‘We thank you.’ We will always make sure the health and safety of the athletes is foremost.”
But for some, the second cancellation in four years of the race is giving them second thoughts about returning.
“The run, that is my strongest discipline. … The bike was great. It was beautiful,” said Emerson Kiefer, of Hartford, Connecticut, who finished third and is a member of the Top Gunz training team that also includes Mike and Melissa Consolini. “I’m concerned about the swim. It’s been canceled two times now.”
West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt crosses the finish line to complete his second full Ironman triathlon on Sunday. "It was disappointing that, due to last night's rainstorm, the swim portion of the event was canceled for the second consecutive year, but we will be putting every effort in place to ensure the swim takes place next year," he said. (Michael J. Fiedler / Special to The Republican)Michael J. Fiedler / Special to The Republican
Melyssa Brochu, 45, who finished first in her age category for women, said the relative short race of 4 hours, 30 minutes makes the competition attractive, but the cancellation of the swim is a disadvantage.
She said she generally is equally strong in each discipline and figures how much time she can bank on each leg. Losing the swim portion makes it more difficult to do well in the race.
Jenny Marshall, of Norwalk, Connecticut, was the first woman to finish the race with a time of 3:59:01. While she has finished five full triathlons and a dozen half-races, including at least one previously in Western Massachusetts, this is the first time she has finished on top.
“It was hillier than I remembered it. The run is beautiful, and the bike support is great,” she said. “I’m a runner by discipline, and the swim is my hardest leg. I am still disappointed it was canceled.”
Hundreds of family, friends and others gathered at City Hall on Court Square to watch competitors cross the finish line. Meghan Goshea was one of more than 1,000 volunteers who worked at the race and received the plum assignment of draping completion medals around finishers’ necks.
Conrad Scheurkogel, of Norwalk, Connecticut, receives attention after becoming dehydrated after completing the race on Sunday. (Michael J. Fiedler / Special to The Republican)Michael J. Fiedler / Special to The Republican
“The most fun part of it is observing the hard work people have put in,” said Goshea, assistant dean of career development for American International College, which recruited a number of people to assist in the race. “I didn’t know our bodies were meant to do that.”
While it doesn’t inspire her to attempt a triathlon, Goshea said watching the athletes might push her to be more intense in her own workouts.
Directing the race meant coordinating a large amount of assistance from police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel, as well as volunteers who monitor different legs throughout the race, Nel said.
The race, combined with the Springfield Pride Festival on Saturday and other smaller events, makes it one of the busiest weekends of the year in the city.
Chris Conroy, of East Granby, Connecticut, prepares for the 56-mile Ironman bike course, which began at Riverfront Park in downtown Springfield. (Michael J. Fiedler / Special to The Republican)Michael J. Fiedler / Special to The Republican
One of the additions this year were themes at each of the nine aid stations along the route that matched with Western Massachusetts’ attractions, such as the Dr. Seuss Museum, the Basketball Hall of Fame and the Springfield Armory, he said.
Springfield Fire Chief Bernard J. Calvi worked the aid station at the finish line. While the weather started as relatively cool, breezy and cloudy, there were concerns about later competitors overheating.
“If the sun comes out, there may be more problems. We are making sure just in case,” he said.
Calvi, who was an Agawam firefighter before he was hired as the Springfield chief, said he was happy to see the results. “It is great to see a local guy win.”
Jennifer Sun, left, and Chuxin Liu, of New York City, cheer for their friends Shucong Huang and Ronna Cong, who were competing in the fourth Ironman 70.3 Western Massachusetts Triathlon. (Michael J. Fiedler / Special to The Republican)Michael J. Fiedler / Special to The Republican
The aptly named Miles Speedie, 63, from Oakville, Canada, competed in the race. One of the advantages of the Western Massachusetts race is he could combine it with a visit with his daughter, who lives in Cambridge.
“It is a lovely race. The bike race is beautiful,” he said. “It is one of the more challenging North American courses; it’s the hills.”
West Springfield Mayor William Reichelt participated in his fourth Western Massachusetts Ironman; in two others, he was part of a relay team with Westfield Mayor Michael McCabe and state Rep. Michael Finn, D-West Springfield.
“I love it. It is a great Western Massachusetts event,” he said.
Competitor Corinne Monfette, of Glastonbury, Connecticut, prepares for the 56-mile bike course, which began at Riverfront Park in downtown Springfield. (Michael J. Fiedler / Special to The Republican)Michael J. Fiedler / Special to The Republican
The hardest part of the competition was running through Forest Park at the end of the race. Reichelt said he never realized how hilly Springfield’s largest park is.
But he rated the best part as the ride through West Springfield — of course.
“The cheering section in West Springfield is the best,” he said.
Jenny Marshall, of Norwalk, Connecticut, was the first female to finish the Ironman 70.3 Western Massachusetts Triathlon. (Michael J. Fiedler / Special to The Republican)Michael J. Fiedler / Special to The Republican
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