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Cycling / Triathlon

St. Anthony's has send-off for race director

By JESSICA FISH
Published April 29, 2005

Downtown waterfront residents played host to an international field of more than 3,500 competitors for last weekend's breezy and brisk St. Anthony's Triathlon at St. Petersburg's Vinoy Park.

It was the last time that event director Steve Meckfessel would be seen scurrying about with multiple phones and pagers going off nonstop for weeks at a time.

Meckfessel recently accepted a position with Ironman Triathlon, and he was honored during an awards party in the park after Sunday's event.

Website message boards all over the U.S. congratulated Meckfessel and the city for the country's big season opener, which was designated as a USA Triathlon Regional Championship.

"The people of St. Petersburg proudly rose to the occasion once again, and we give props to them," said a posting on Slowtwitch.com. Before the races, St. Pete Mad Dogs members worked to secure home stays with local families.

St. Petersburg's Kathy Morgan coordinated the pro home-stay program, and many others who were not racing jumped on the volunteer bandwagon.

Longtime St. Petersburg Bicycle Club member Mark Murzyn was in charge of the layout and support system on the bicycle courses. MEEK & MIGHTY: Seminole's Barbara Burke led the way for the rookie triathletes in Saturday's mini-triathlon at Northshore Pool.

Burke, 64, whose husband, Roger, is a USAT coach, has lost more than 55 pounds and credits her newfound fitness to the cross-training her triathlon friends challenged her to do.

"I haven't worked out since my high school days, back in Long Island (N.Y.)," Burke said. "But I do know the sport of triathlon because I've been to Kona six times with my husband and the St. Pete Mad Dogs. "My doctor gave the okay, and I began my fitness program.

"I did the Meek & Mighty to help me see the scale move," she said. "It was more fun than I expected, and the support I got out there on the course was unbelievable."

SUNDAY'S MAIN EVENT: Last weekend's unseasonably cool weather came on the heels of a cold front, and Sports & Fitness Expo tents were blowing in the strong wind.

Competitors waited to rack their bicycles until the last minute, and they crowded Chainwheel Drive mechanics who were tuning up bikes until dark.

Australian professional Greg Bennett, 33, won the race in 1 hour, 48 minutes, 42 seconds.

The fastest female pro was Becky Lavelle, 30, of Cupertino, Calif., with a 2:01:59 performance.

Bennett's wife, Laura Reback, 29, of North Palm Beach, placed sixth in 2:05:59.

Bennett is the world's top ranked male triathlete, and Laura is No. 2. They married shortly after competing in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games triathlon.

Locals battled it out with 3,500 other competitors in a national class field of amateurs.

Among the division winners were female Grandmaster champion Linda Musante, 51, of Tampa, 2:26:26; Marc Bonnet-Eymard, 33, Winter Garden, 1:55:51; Sharon Beltrandelrio, 37, Clearwater, 2:16:29; Rob Skaggs, 38, Tampa, 1:57:51; Myrna Haag, 46, Tampa, 2:22:56; Bill Riley, 68, St. Petersburg, 2:26:17; Jackie Yost, 77, Treasure Island, 4:02:41; and David Schick, 54, Clearwater, 2:59:11.

INJURY LIST: Out with a shoulder injury, Brighthouse Channel 47 sports director Eric Keaton transferred his St. Anthony's Triathlon entry to the 2006 race.

Keaton, 38, of Palm Harbor, arrived at the Sunday event well before the 7 a.m. start, accompanied by members of his camera crew. They filmed four of the country's best athletes in the 80-plus age division: Charles Futtrell, 84, of The Villages; Dr. Charles Lasley, 83, Belleair; Dr. John Taylor, 83, Atlanta; and Bill Schweizer, 82, Owego, N.Y.

Forerunners Track Club member Lenore Rupert of St. Petersburg pulled out of the competition at the last minute after sustaining a foot injury. The 61-year-old said her spirits were lifted after she worked a water stop on Northshore Drive for the race. She said the volunteers couldn't help but notice the 1,000 Team In Training members racing in their distinctive purple uniforms.

"Some were running in groups," she said. "And some were running in memory of someone they knew, and they were crying at the finish line." For complete results, go online to www.satriathlon.com

[Last modified April 28, 2005, 08:32:07]