About the author:
Rupantar has been the race director of the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team since 1985, having been asked by Sri Chinmoy to serve in that capacity. As well as working on the big races the US Marathon Team organise each year - the 3100 Mile Race and the Six and 10 Day Race - he also spends a considerable amount of time archiving the Marathon Team's 40 year history on this website..jpg)
"MacIntyre Undefeated in Sri Chinmoy Rhode Island Triathlon, Misquamicut Beach, Westerly, Rhode Island" (Press Release). September 10, 1985. Retrieved 2012-06-13. Archive copy at the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team office, NY.
"Mark MacIntyre scored a brilliant victory, after a 1 1/2 year layoff from racing, in the 7th annual Sri Chinmoy Rhode Island Triathlon, September 8, Westerly, Rhode Island. Race record holder and four-time winner of this event, MacIntyre remains undefeated. His 1985 time of 4:55:21 sets a new course record for the 66.5 mile event.
The Sri Chinmoy Triathlon is the official Rhode Island triathlon and a Hawaii Ironman qualifier. Its course includes a 1-1/2 mile ocean swim, 60 mile bike and 15 mile run.
The first and second women both bested the previous woman's record of 5:41:20. Nancy Fitzhenry of Roslindale, MA overcame a slow start to finish in 5:31:21 - 17th in a field of over 200. Vicky Morrison of Camp Hill, PA followed 20th in 5:40:29.
Rhode Island Governor's Cup winners were second overall Bill Solomine of Johnson, RI and third woman MaryAnn Votta of Warwick, RI. Solomine clocked 5:00:43 while Votta finished 30th overall in 5:58:19. As first Rhode Island man and woman, they will be presented with awards at the State House. Their names will be added to the list of winners on the cup.
Victory was not easily his, however. George Missailidis, winner of this year's Seaside and NYC triathlons, was first out of the water in 35:38. Gary Flacke of Claremont, CA led a whirlwind assault on the 60 mile bike course, clocking a record 2:37:41 for the segment. MacIntyre, a professed flat water swimmer, left the brine a soggy 18th, but clocked a PR chasing Flacke on the Rhode Island hills. He was fifth - 5-1/2 minutes behind Flacke - going into the run.
'The first five miles of the run are crucial,' he later said. 'More than that and you just want to hang on.' He poured it on to overtake a fading Flacke by mile four. Once in the clear, MacIntyre breezed home to a decisive, if unplanned, victory."
