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In The NEWS

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2024
HERMANS GETS REDEMPTION – Cambridge man avenges 2nd-place finish from last year
8-05-2024_The RecorderThomas Johnston
Harvard's Magnus Hermans was the first to cross the finish line at the 2023 Greenfield Triathlon, but South Burlington, Vt.'s Tom Direnzo — competing in a later heat — managed to have a better time to take the win, forcing Hermans to settle for second.

On Sunday during the 2024 edition — the 40th running of the race — Hermans was once again the first runner to complete the sprint course with a time of 1 hour, 3 minutes and 8 seconds. Hermans, now living in Cambridge, waited while all the other runners came through to see if that time would hold up. This year it did. He narrowly edged out Greenfield's Daniel Bensen for first, as Bensen took second with a time of 1:03:14, just six seconds behind Hermans. "I wanted it last year," Hermans said. "It feels much better this year. This feels great. I'll be back next year and for years to come."

Sunday's race was not the triathlon athletes have become accustomed to.

The triathlon typically opens with a swim, followed by the bike and the run to close it out. The water in the Green River Swimming Area did not pass the test to be swimmable, as the swim portion of the triathlon was replaced with a one-third mile run near the starting line, followed by the typical bike and run.

Despite no swim portion, Hermans said it didn't stop him from enjoying the race. "This is the most fun local race I've seen out there," Hermans said. "No swim was unfortunate but even without the swim, it didn't make a difference. It's why I drive two hours out here each time. It's a great course and the volunteers are great. They're ringing their bells and there's people outside their houses cheering you on. It's great."
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TRI REACHES MILESTONE – Popular Greenfield event celebrating 40th edition on Sunday; swim portion status still TBD
8-03-2024_The RecorderThomas Johnston
The Greenfield Triathlon is hitting a major milestone on Sunday. The triathlon began in 1983 and has run nearly every year since, the only exception being 2020 due to COVID-19. That makes it the longestrunning triathlon in New England. Sunday marks the 40th running of the race, as it gets underway at 8 a.m. at the Green River Swimming and Recreation Area.

"It's always one of my favorite events," Greenfield Recreation Department Director Christy Moore said. "Being our 40th race, it'll be an extraordinary celebration. That's a long time. We had to delay the celebration a year because of Covid. I'm extremely proud of this event and more so, the committee members who, to this day, are heavily involved in the event." The Greenfield Triathlon attracts athletes from all over the country. People from throughout New England participate in the race each year while athletes from California, Alaska, Quebec, Utah and Florida have also participated. "Being the 40th year, it's overwhelming to think about how many athletes have been through Greenfield and participated on this beautiful course," Moore said. "They come from all over. We are known across the country for this event."

With rain coming down this week, the race was forced to wait to test the water in the Green River to determine if the swim portion of the triathlon would take place. A sample was taken on Friday, though the results weren't expected to be available until Saturday afternoon. Stay tuned to the race website (greenfield-triathlon.com) for up to date information on whether the swim portion of the race will be contested. "It's a struggle to manage with Mother Nature," Moore said. "We've been down there testing every day and we're continuing to monitor it."
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2023
REINO WINS 9TH TITLE – South Deerfield resident triumphs for sixth time in a row
8-07-2023_The RecorderThomas Johnston
South Deerfield's JoEllen Reino is going to need to add another shelf to her trophy case with the way she continues to dominate the Greenfield Triathlon. Reino, now 60 years old, has came out the winner in the women's sprint race the last five Greenfield Triathlons and made it six in a row on Sunday during the 39th running of the race, completing the course in a time of one hour, 18 minutes and 53 seconds. That time was the fastest among all women and placed her seventh overall in the race.

It was the ninth career Greenfield Triathlon victory for Reino. "I love this race," Reino said. "It's my favorite one. Of all the races it's my favorite. I do take pride in winning this for the ninth time. I work really hard for it. I run the track and I'm always riding hard on the bike to be ready."

The 39th Greenfield Triathlon was a return to the normal format, as the swim portion of it was canceled last year. Having it back in full was something many racers said they enjoyed, with Reino one of them. "I like it however they do it but I did like the full triathlon," Reino said. "I have to say it's such a great triathlon. How hard all the people work and puts it together is great. It has all the great qualities of a great triathlon. It's well organized." In any race, it helps to have some competition to push you and that's what Reino had on Sunday.
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RACE IS THREE TIMES THE FUN – About 230 registered to compete
8-05-2023_The RecorderThomas Johnston, photos by Dan Little
The longest running triathlon in New England returns this weekend. The 39th running of the Greenfield Triathlon will kick off at 8 a.m. on Sunday at the Green River Swimming Area, with 230 athletes from all over the country registered as of Friday to compete.

While it’s been a rain filled summer in Franklin County, the current forecast calls for a sunny day on Sunday with near perfect conditions for the triathlon. "It looks like we're going to have a nice day for it," Greenfield Recreation Director Christy Moore said. "The forecast looks beautiful. It's so nice to be able to have an event where there isn't rain forecasted. It's uplifting. Last year it was super hot. It's looking like we might have a perfect day on Sunday. " Last year saw 227 participants in the triathlon, a number that went down once the swim portion of the triathlon was canceled due to high levels of bacteria in the Green River. The water must be tested within 72 hours of the race, and it passed the test on Friday, meaning the full triathlon will be completed on Sunday.

While there are slight tweaks to the course, the main portion of the race will remain the same, with athletes competing in either the sprint or international event. Athletes can compete individually or in teams of two or three. Those competing in the spring course will begin with a .31 mile swim down the Green River, exit the transition area and get on their bike, where they will travel 15.14 miles. Following the bike portion athletes will complete the 3.08 mile run to finish the triathlon.
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2022
RACERS BEAT THE HEAT – Green River bacteria levels eliminated swim for race that welcomed back inaugural victor
8-08-2022_The RecorderMary Byrne, photos by Dan Little
With the sun beating down and temperatures inching into the high 80s by late morning, Ryan Lyesiuk knew the key to Sunday 's race was pacing and fluids –and lots of them. Lyesiuk, 43, finished the 30.28-mile bike and 7.17 mile-international course at the Greenfield Triathlon in 2 hours, 13 minutes and 22 seconds. Due to bacteria levels in the Green River, a .31 mile run replaced the swim leg for both the international and sprint courses of the Recreation Department's annual triathlon. . . .

Jennie Hanson, 37, of Rochester, New York was the first female finisher in the international course with a final time of 2 hours, 17 minutes and 11 seconds. She placed second overall. Eighteen-year-old Riley Cole of Northampton finished second overall in his first sprint triathlon in 1 hour, 3 minutes and 27 seconds. "It felt good to beat the heat as quickly as possible," he said. Cole finished just a minute behind Greenfield resident Daniel Benson who completed the .3 mile run, 15.4 mile bike ride and 3.08 mile run in 1 hour, 2 minutes and 24 seconds. Benson is now a four-time winner of the Greenfield Triathlon. Christopher Vayda of Southampton took third (1:04.27), Matt Cain of Amherst came in fourth (1:07.03) and Nathanael Kuzio (1:08.04) earned fifth. On the women's side, South Deerfield resident Joellen Reino maintained her title as the first female in the sprint course, finishing with a time of 1 hour, 13 minutes and 15 seconds. She crossed the finish line with a lead of more than three more minutes over the second place female, Alyssa Binczyk of Los Angeles California. Elena Betke-Brunswick of Hadley took third (1:16:38), Erika Looman of Shelburne Falls came in fourth (1:18:31) and Melissa Warwick of Shutesbury (1:19:58) earned fifth.

Many of Sunday's racers were greeted at the finish line by Sean Moore, who returned to Greenfield this weekend for the first time since winning the first Greenfield Triathlon in 1984. He was 25 at the time, working in Greenfield at the YMCA. "It's so good to be back," said Moore, 63. "Coming back is an emotional overload in some ways. Seeing old places, old friends … It's amazing where time goes." In the years since he was on the course, Moore said the direction of the bike course has changed and the run course has been modified. "The swim— we actually ... started over across the bridge, on the other end of the peninsula, came around, down and back," he said. There were far fewer participants – with about 24 entries that first year, according to former Recreation Director Rick Roy –and, maybe most distinctly, results weren't nearly as instantaneous. "We used stop watches," he recalled, laughing. After years without competing, Moore said watching the participants in the 2022 event may inspire him to get back into triathlons. "I'm having the best time taking it all in," he said. "I'm glad to be able to help out in some way. It'd be nice to compete – maybe some time in the future."
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COOLEST SPOT AROUND
8-08-2022_The RecorderStaff Photo
Howard Hanna, of Amherst, cools off after finishing the 38th Greenfield Triathlon, Sunday morning, on Nash's
Mill Road in Greenfield.
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SAME RACE, DIFFERENT LOOK – No swim portion due to bacteria; extra run to open event
8-06-2022_The RecorderThomas Johnston, photos by Paul Franz
The longest running triathlon in New England will look a bit different on Sunday. The 38th Greenfield Triathlon gets underway on Sunday, but after a sample from the Green River revealed the water had tested positive for both Cryptosporidium and Giardia, the race was forced to take out the swim portion of the triathlon this year. Instead, the event will begin with a one-third mile run around the transition area at the Green River Swim Area, heading out onto Nash's Mill Road before looping around to go along the Green River and ending where the typical transition out of the water and onto the cycling portion takes place. For points and ranking purposes, the race is still considered a full triathlon. "We knew on Wednesday that we wouldn't have the swim portion so we were able to work to make sure it would still count as a full triathlon," race director Christy Moore said. "We 're seeing mixed reviews on not having the swim. Those who excel in the swim portion are disappointed but those who struggle or aren't the best at the swim, there's a little relief." Outside of the nixing of the swim portion, the rest of the race will remain the same. Those participating in the sprint course will follow up the lap around the transition area with a 15.14 mile bike ride and finish off the race with a 3.08 mile run. The international course is double the sprint course, with participants traversing 30.28 miles on the bike before closing with a 7.17 mile run. . . .
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2021
BACK IN THE SADDLE – Joellen Reno, Paul Mikuszewski capture sprint titles
8-02-2021_The Recorder_Sports – Thomas Johnston, photos by Paul Franz
Good luck trying to catch Joellen Reno in the Greenfield Triathlon. The South Deerfield resident blistered through the .31 mile swim, 15.14 mile bike and 3.08 mile sprint course in a time of 1 hour, 19 minutes, 36.5 seconds Sunday in the 38th edition, first amongst women. The win was Reno's seventh. "It's very exciting," Reno said. "The best part is so many people you know are on the course. You smile and cheer for them. It's such a local race, everyone is so encouraging. It's the whole atmosphere and I'm so grateful they put it on this year. It brings so much joy and normalcy to so many people." With the race being canceled last year — and the course returning to it's original trail after having to switch up in 2019 due to construction — just being able to compete in the race was thrilling for Reno. Winning it made it all the more better. "I did miss it," Reno said. "You're running by yourself, biking by yourself. It's nice to talk in transition and see everybody." . . .

On the men's side, it was a successful first triathlon back for Agawam's Paul Mikuszewski. Mikuszewski, who hadn't raced a triathlon in three years — got back into training during the pandemic, lost some weight and decided to see what he could do. He shocked himself by coming across in 1:10:45, the top overall time in the sprint field. "It was better than I expected," Mikuszewski said. "I just wanted to have fun, test my fitness to see where I was at. During the pandemic, I did this 75-hard challenge and I lost 26 pounds and was feeling good so I decided to swim and bike again. I just wanted to come here and see what I could do." Not in the top heat, Mikuszewski wasn't the first to cross the finish line. He didn't even check where his time placed him after finishing, having to be told that he had the top time by others. "My intention was not trying to race to win," Mikuszewski said. "I was in the general heat, I wasn't in the elite wave that went off. It's encouraged me to get back into triathlons. I missed it. On the run I really realized I missed doing it." . . .
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TRIATHLON SPRINT
8-02-2021_The Recorderphoto by Paul Franz
Competitors start one of the sprint heats on the Green River in the 2021 Greenfield Triathlon.
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2020
Leaving quite an impression – Shattucks trained many aspiring runners over 20 years
7-17-2020_The Recorder_Sports: RUNNING CLUB F.C., VOLUME 19 – Jeff Lajoie
We continue with Volume 19 where we talk running groups and getting off the couch with two of the best. Becky & Steve Shattuck, Greenfield. If you’ve read this series for a while, you’ve probably seen their names in print. For many runners throughout Franklin County, their first steps came under the guidance of Becky and Steve Shattuck. The couple led a popular running group based at The Body Shoppe in Greenfield, and Steve estimates that they trained a couple hundred runners during their 20-plus year tenure. While they no longer lead sessions with new runners, the impact the duo has had on the running community is immeasurable. “We did this beginning training on a voluntary basis for many years,” began Steve. “We modified a beginning running program that initially came out of the Runner’s World magazine, and started to help people begin running.” Getting people running was a satisfying feeling for the pair. They said that since there was usually a pretty large variance in fitness levels throughout the group, runners would spread out over the course of a 30-minute run. Steve would lead the front and Becky would bring up the rear, and after 15 minutes, the group would reverse direction. The running plan consisted of different stages, and newcomers would build up to 30 minutes of non-stop walking before adding short running spurts. Eventually, the 30-minute span would consistent of almost continuous running.
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Resident garners heroine award – Sunderland
7-15-2020_The Recorder_Local & Residential – Mary Byrne
A Sunderland woman has been named one of this year’s Commonwealth Heroines. Aleks Kajstura, 37, was one of 133 women across the state to receive recognition from the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, a state group that serves to advance women and girls toward equity in all areas of life. “It was such a great honor, but definitely surprising to see my name among all these women doing wonderful work for the commonwealth,” said Kajstura, who has lived in Sunderland since 2008. Kajstura was nominated by state Rep. Natalie Blais — also of Sunderland — who first met Kajstura in 2015 when they served on the hiring committee for the Sunderland town administrator position. “I remember being impressed by her professionalism, her thoughtfulness and her commitment to a fair process,” Blais said. More recently, Blais said, she discovered the work Kajstura does for the Prison Policy Initiative, a nonprofit that researches the negative impacts of mass incarceration on society as a whole. Kajstura serves as the legal director of the organization, where she lead the campaign against prison gerrymandering and has highlighted the ways in which women are treated differently than men in the criminal justice system.
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Welsh a late bloomer – Buckland resident turns into impressive triathlete late in life
7-01-2020_The Recorder_Sports – Jeff Lajoie
When he first tried to swim competitively, Bob Welsh admits he couldn’t last the length of a pool. While the swim portion has never been his expertise, he’s more than made up for it with stellar performances in the other two legs of a triathlon. The 77-year-old Buckland resident is nationallyranked in his age category with USA Triathlon, a considerable feat considering Welsh only got into the competitions less than 10 years ago. “When I retired, I hung around a whole bunch of people who do these things,” he began. “I’d bike with them and then they’d go off and do Iron Man races, triathlons, crazy things. So that was kind of how it started. I’m an adrenaline junkie myself.” Welsh had long been a cyclist, but admitted he needed some direction in the other two disciplines. He went to Greenfield’s Steve and Becky Shattuck for running help, but the swimming aspect took a bit longer. “I couldn’t do a full swim for my first race so I had to backstroke,” he explained. “I’ve done a number of triathlons since then, including some ocean swims, and while they’re very enjoyable, I’m still working at it.” Cycling is where he makes his moves during races. Welsh said it’s not uncommon for him to be well behind the pace following the swim portion of a triathlon, but he manages to pick off competitors moving through the bike course. “I know damn well that I’m certainly not going to be a competitive swimmer,” he offered. “All I’m trying to do is get out and pass people. It’s about surviving the swim and then that’s where the realfun begins.” . . .
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Greenfield Triathlon canceled
6-27-2020_The Recorder_Local Sports – Jeff Lajoie
One of the longest-running events on the Franklin County sporting calendar will not be part of the summer slate in 2020. The Greenfield Triathlon announced on Friday that it had canceled its race, set for Aug. 2, due to COVID-19. Race Director Christy Moore sent a statement to participants via email informing them of the decision. “The health and safety of everyone involved in the Greenfield Triathlon remains our top priority, so in light of continued health concerns regarding COVID-19 and guidance from local, state and federal authorities, we regret to announce that this year’s triathlon will not take place,” the statement said. “We thank our loyal participants, volunteers and sponsors for their continued support, and look forward to bringing the triathlon community together again in 2021.” . . .
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2019
'Just keep moving'
8-15-2019_The Recorder_Opinion: Readers Write – Betsy Evans, Gill
To the organizers and volunteers of the 2019 Greenfield Lightlife Triathlon, a huge than kyou! The day was glorious. As always the chit chat before and after the race among the competitors was that the event is so friendly and so well organized. And I’m sure adjusting to all the course changes wasn’t easy, but it came off with out a hitch. Out on the course the volunteers were super supportive, clapping and shouting words of e-couragement. Being the oldest woman on the course (72, I am proud to say) perhaps resulted in some extra words of support as well — love that. At one point I ran between an 80-year-old man and a 12-year-old girl (oldest and youngest people on the course). Wow, so inspiring. As my Mom always said, “if you want to stay healthy, just keep moving. ”We were all taking the motto to heart, “To finish is to win“! Thanks for giving us all such a memorable experience, plus delicious food! See you next year.
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Reino rules, again – South Deerfield resident captures record sixth women’s sprint title
8-05-2019_The Recorder_Sports – Thomas Johnston
JoEllen Reino added to her legacy at the 36th Greenfield Lightlife Triathlon on Sunday. The South Deerfield resident finished the race in 1 hour, 2 minutes and 9 seconds to win her fifth consecutive and race record sixth overall women’s sprint group at the long-running annual event. “It means a lot to me because the people are so good here,”Reino said after the win. “They make for such a warm, caring race. It’s the nicest triathlon I’ve ever done.”The 2019 event was forced to undergo vast changes from previous races. With the closing of Nash’s Mill Road due to bridge construction, the course was altered significantly from years’ past. The main changes came in the cycling course, as athletes were forced to make a U-turn to complete that portion of the race. On Saturday, the water at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area did not pass the Bathing Beach Water Quality Test, deeming it unsafe to be used in the race. This forced organizers to cancel the swim leg of the triathlon, replacing it with a short run before the athletes got on their bicycles.“I was disappointed because of the integrity of the event, ”Reino said. “When we do a triathlon, we want to do a full triathlon but they have to do that because of the safety. They’re looking out for people, they’re not trying to be difficult. I understand why they cancel even though it is disappointing.” Reino finished nearly five minutes before any other women crossed the finish line, with Astrid Schanz-Garbassi, racing out of Oakland, Cal., taking second with a time of 1:07:03. Melissa Mattison secured third place with a finish of 1:07:13. . . .
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Different looking Tri on tap – Road construction leads to significant course changes
8-03-2019_The Recorder_Sports – Thomas Johnston
The Greenfield Lightlife Triathlon kicks off Sunday,with this weekend’s race marking the 36th running of the highly anticipated event. As of Friday, 258 people had signed up for the race.In last year’s event, 350 athletes competed. Competitors can continue to sign up at today’s packet pickup,which runs from 4-6 p.m., though a 20-percent jump in fees will occur. The water was expected to be tested today in preparation for the swim portion of the triathlon. Due to the closing of Nash’s Mill Road for bridge construction, the course was forced to undergo significant changes this year.“We appreciate everyone’s flexibility with our struggles in Greenfield,” race director Christy Moore said. . . .
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2018
Reino captures record 5th Greenfield Tri
8-06-2018_The Recorder_Sports – Josh Solomon
In the weeks leading up to the 35th running of the Greenfield Triathlon, it seemed the weather was either hot and humid, rainy or both. On Sunday, the 355 race participants were spared torrential rains, but got served a harsh dose of hot and humid. That's just what the doctor ordered, though, for perennial favorite, South Deerfield's JoEllen Reino, who grew up in Virginia. "It's such a short and sweet season up here," she said with her usual smile. "I'll take it." Take it she did — Reino walked away from the sprint rendition of the triathlon with her fourth straight title and a new record, five total wins. She finished the feat in 1 hour, 16 minutes, 21 seconds. She broke a tie with Don Dwight, who finished first four times. "I was happy with how I performed and then whatever the results were, it took care of itself," Reino said, after claiming her award to the cheers of the many familiar faces in the stands at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area. She beat out Northampton's Tara Strassburg (1:17:09) by 48 seconds. "Certainly with this heat, I don't know where she gets her energy from," race director Christy Moore said. "She's just fun to watch and I think she has fun competing, which is why I think she's so successful." . . .
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Familiar faces highlight 35th Greenfield Triathlon
8-04-2018_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
Participants in the field for the 35th running of the Greenfield Triathlon are going to get an opportunity to challenge themselves Sunday morning when competitors take off swimming at the sound of the air horn at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area on Nash's Mill Road in Greenfield. As was the case one year ago, this year's field includes many returning champions that other triathletes will get an opportunity to compete against in one of the two courses. Three of the four individual champions from a year ago return to try and tackle the course that has made the first Sunday in August a Mecca for triathletes for three and a half decades. "This is the longest-running triathlon in New England and we are proud to have it in Greenfield," said race director Christy Moore. The triathlon features two races. The smaller course is called the Sprint Division and features a .31-mile swim, a 15.14mile bike and a 3.09 run, while the longer course — known as the International course — features a .63-mile swim, a 30.28-mile bike and a 7.09-mile run. . . .
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2017
Triathlon thank you
8-19-2017_The Recorder_Readers Write – Judith Roberts, Colrain
I have been competing in the Greenfield Triathlon for 24 years. I have the T-Shirts to prove it. It is a fun and exciting event in our beautiful little town. But most importantly, it is so well run by the wonderful volunteers. I want to add my voice to thank them all. From the spectators along the course who cheer us on to Christy Moore, race director, and everyone in between. This includes too many people to thank here, but our local police, lifeguards, ambulance, Rick Roy, the cooks, the masseurs, people cleaning the roadway and picking up trash, handing out water and directing us along the route, and many, many more. I am so grateful to you for what you do. You are a big part of what makes our little community a great place to live and work and play.
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Reino wins third straight, fourth overall ‘Tri’
8-7-2017_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
JoEllen Reino had to travel a bit further than the .31-mile swim, 15.14mile bike and 3.09-mile run to make history Sunday morning during the 34th annual Greenfield Triathlon at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area. The South Deerfield resident also had a 3½-hour drive. On Thursday, Reino decided that she would drive back to Franklin County during the middle of her Maine vacation to compete in the event and the three-time champ and twotime defending champion made history as she tied the record for most all-time wins with her fourth title. Reino won the women’s Sprint competition by 1 hour, 18 minutes, 8.4 seconds to tie Don Dwight with four all-time wins as Dwight captured four consecutive men’s International Division crowns from 1994 through 1997. The overall women’s winner was competing in the 50-54 division. Reino was not the only person who made history. She was joined in the record books by Hatfield’s Madeline Nagy, who also picked up her fourth alltime victory with her women’s International competition victory. Nagy finished the .63-mile swim, 30.28-mile bike and 7.19mile run in 2 hours, 42 minutes, 56.5 seconds for her fourthever crown and first since 2015. . . .
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Champs return for Greenfield Triathlon
8-5-2017_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
Dan Bensen, JoEllen Reino and Madeline Nagy will all be looking to go down in the Greenfield Triathlon history books Sunday morning during the 34th running of the annual event. The trio will each be vying for their fourth-ever crowns, which would tie a record set by Don Dwight when he won four International races in the 1990s. The Triathlon kicks off at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area on Nash’s Mill Road in Greenfield. The first heat of competitors will hit the waters of the Green River and subsequent heats will follow. The triathlon features two races: the Sprint and International. The Sprint is the shorter of the two races and consists of a .31-mile swim, 15.14-mile bike and 3.09-mile run, while the International course includes a .63mile swim, 30.28-mile bike and 7.09-mile run. Bensen and Reino join Carson Poe for another run at history as each of the three will vie for their third straight wins. . . .
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Triathlon volunteers stay the course
8-5-2017_The Recorder_Sports – Andy Castillo
Planning Sunday’s annual Greenfield Lightlife event a year-long endurance test – When the starting gun of Sunday morning’s Greenfield Triathlon fires and athletes surge into the Green River, it’ll be the result of lengthy preparation by hundreds of volunteers behind the scenes. “ As soon as the race is over, we meet the next month as a debrief to see if there were any issues. Then we roll right into planning and getting things in place for the next year,” said Greenfield’s Recreation Director Christy Moore. The annual competition is one of the department’s largest fundraisers. On Friday night, a group of eight volunteers packed bags with T-shirts, water bottles, snacks, to be given to athletes. “This will be my fourth,” said Amy Bowse, a triathlete who’s also on the race’s seven-member planning committee, pausing as she worked. Bowse designed the T-shirts. “I loved it so much after the first year. I wanted to be a part of it,” she said. . . .
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2016
Precocious Scotera wins 2016 Patrick Bell Award
8-8-2016_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
Although it may be difficult to remember the type of things you were doing as a 10-year old, running triathlons probably wasn’t among them. Greenfield’s Luke Scotera will forever be able to boast about doing just that as a 10 year-old, however, as he was awarded the Patrick Bell Award, which is given annually to the youngest finisher in the Greenfield Triathlon Sprint Division. The award is named in memory of Greenfield native Bell, who got his start in triathlons in 1995 at the Greenfield event at age 13. He continued competing in the sport for 10 years before tragically dying in 2005 at the age of 23 after completing the Ashland Lions Club Triathlon. Each year his family comes out for the Greenfield Triathlon and many of his brothers and sisters compete in teams. Then the family hands out the award that typically goes to someone around 12 or 13, but this year was awarded to someone even younger. “My mom encouraged me to do it,” Scotera said about his impetus. “It was great. I had a lot of fun.” . . .
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Bensen, Cameron, Poe repeat champions
8-8-2016_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
Familiar faces adorned the podium following the 33rd running of the Greenfield Triathlon Sunday at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area, where three defending champions retained their crowns. Deerfield’s Dan Bensen and Conway’s JoEllen Cameron returned to the top of the podium in the Sprint Division, while Northampton’s Carson Poe repeated as Men’s International Division champion. Katie Mason of Brooklyn, N.Y ., was the only first-time champion this season, winning the Women’s International Division. Sunday’s victory marked the first celebration of the month for Cameron, who will be celebrating again in two weeks when she marries fiance John Reino, who doubles as her training partner for the multiple triathlons in which they both compete, and who, incidentally, also won his age division (men’s 50-54) Sunday. Cameron joked that this will be the final time that JoEllen Cameron will compete. She will be JoEllen Reino in any future appearances. All the more reason for her and Reino to come back early from their vacation in Maine to compete in Sunday’s event. “We just love this race,” Cameron said, “and we love triathlons in general. We train together, it’s something we like to do. We are doing another one Wednesday in New York. We probably do about seven or eight triathlons per summer.” Winning the women’s Sprint Division was no easy feat for the bride-to-be, thanks to Easthampton’s Kate Mc-Cully, who had the fastest swim time of any competitor, male or female. McCully completed the .31-mile swim in 7 minutes, 12 seconds, which was more than 30 seconds faster than any of the other 155 entrants in the Sprint Division, and nearly 2 minutes better than Cameron. . . .
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Endurance for the win
8-8-2016_The Recorder_Main – photos by Matt Burkhartt
Athletes from all over the region biked, swam and ran their way to victory at the Greenfield Triathlon on Sunday. Above, Mark Waller of Greenfield races down Nash’s Mill Road during the Sprint individual bike leg. . . .
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Former champs abound for Sunday’s race
8-5-2016_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
The 33rd running of the Greenfield Triathlon will take place Sunday morning at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area in Greenfield, where three former champions will be among the few hundred people competing. Last year’s Sprint Division champions Dan Benson and JoEllen Cameron are both returning to defend their titles, as is last year’s International men’s champion Carson Poe. Benson finished the .31-mile swim, 15.14-mile bike and 3.09-mile run in 1 hour, 8 minutes, 1.5 seconds to claim the 2015 Sprint men’s championship, marking the second time the Greenfield native has won the event, the other coming in 2012. Last year was also Cameron’s second title, as the 2011 champion hailing from Conway earned the Sprint women’s championship with a time of 1:17:16.3, finishing five minutes ahead of her nearest rival. Last year also marked the return of the Pumping Station covered bridge to the course, after what might be the most popular part of the course was washed away by Hurricane Irene in 2011. . . .
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Talk about full circle
8-2-2016_The Recorder_Sports – Jaywalking by Jay Butynski
Hank Lange remembers it well — Greenfield Triathlon, Aug. 4, 1991, he the 37-year-old overall runner-up and men’s 30-39 division champion. Although it would be no stretch to assume that his grueling accomplishment that day could not have been topped by anyone in his immediate family at that time a quarter-century ago, such a logical assumption about his grueling ordeal would be inaccurate indeed. In fact, dead wrong. Because, you see, just 20 hours before the starting gun had sounded, Lange’s wife, Diana, had given birth to their first child, a daughter. Now, 25 years after the birth of Sarah Wellington Lange, she and her dad will return to Greenfield to participate in the 33rd annual triathlon Sunday morning at the Green River Swimming and Recreation Area. The Brattleboro residents had not returned to the race until last summer, when the Langes attended the 32nd running of the event as spectators. While cheering competitors, father and daughter could feel their competitive juices begin to flow and then and there a challenge was issued for the following summer. “The idea was hatched while we watched that day,” Hank said. “She’s out for blood, I’m afraid.”. . . .
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2015
Bensen, Cameron give Triathlon local champs
8-3-2015_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
On July 23, Greenfield native Dan Bensen celebrated his marriage to college sweetheart Rachel Meyer with a wedding. Ten days later, he was again celebrating — this time, Greenfield Triathlon’s Sprint Division championship. Bensen cruised through the 32nd running of the event to finish in 1 hour, 8 minutes, 1.5 seconds to beat the field by more than three minutes Sunday morning at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area. . . .
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Out To Dry
8-3-2015_The Recorderphoto by Matt Burkhartt
Competitors in the 32nd annual Greenfield Triathlon exit the Green River after completing the swimming leg of the event at the Green River Swimming and Recreation Area on Nashs Mill Road Sunday.
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Covered bridge is back for Sunday’s Triathlon
7-31-2015_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
The bridge. Ah, the bridge. Finally, it’s back. After a three-year hiatus, the covered Pumping Station bridge on Eunice Williams Drive makes its long-awaited return to the Greenfield Triathlon during the 32nd running of the annual race Sunday morning at the Green River Swimming and Recreation Area in Greenfield. The most famous and picturesque part of the course has always been that covered bridge, but the floods from Hurricane Irene in 2011 destroyed it and caused race officials to create an alternate route for the past three years. The bridge reopened this past fall, so now the triathlon can return to its original route, much to the delight of organizers and participants. “I’m extremely excited, it’s nice to have our traditional course back,” Greenfield Recreation Director Christy Moore said. “I think the athletes are excited, too. They missed it. It’s just so quintessential New England to have a covered bridge on the route. I don’t know of any other triathlon that has a covered bridge on the route.” . . .
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2014
Skidmore dominant at Lightlife Triathlon
8-4-2014_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
It was not going to be easy for Meghan Skidmore to best her 2013 performance at the Greenfield Triathlon, but the North Conway, N.H., resident put on a show to remember during the 31wst annual running of the event. Skidmore not only won the women's overall International Competition, she also beat all the men in the event to claim her second consecutive title Sunday morning at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area . . .
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Triple Feat
8-4-2014_The Recorder_Main – photos by Micky Bedell
Participants of the Greenfield Triathlon make their way through the event course . . .
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Greenfield Triathlon on tap Sunday
8-2-2014_The Recorder_Sports – Mark Durant
Now in its fourth decade, the Greenfield Triathlon appears to be as strong as ever. Race Director Christy Moore of the Greenfield Recreation Department said that 229 athletes have registered for the various age groups and divisions as of Wednesday night – including 123 for the individual Sprint course and 73 for the individual International course for the 31st-annual event, which takes place Sunday morning beginning at 8 a.m. at the Green River Swimming & Recreation Area . . .
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2013
Greenfield Triathlon draws old pros and newcomers
8-5-2013_The Recorder_Main – Chris Curtis
The finish area of the Greenfield Triathlon fills rapidly with spectators as finishers begin to trickle in, to be immediately surrounded by family and friends with water and congratulations . . .
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Shea, Bensen steal show at Lightlife Triathlon
8-5-2013_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
Last summer, Gregory Shea was disappointed that the swimming portion of the Greenfield Triathlon had to be canceled due to high levels of bacteria in the Green River. This year, he showed why . . .
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Meaningful Bell Award winner
8-5-2013_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
Noah Kramer was a spectator five years ago, watching father Daniel Kramer run the Greenfield Triathlon. During the awards ceremony following the event, Noah, then 9, listened as the Patrick Bell Award was given out to Lexi Skovran, a 12-year-old who was the youngest competitor to finish the race . . .
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Greenfield Triathlon hits 30 years
8-3-2013_The Recorder_Sports – Jason Butynski
The Greenfield Triathlon will celebrate its 30th year of racing on Sunday morn-ing.More than 200 athletes are slated to take part in the 30th running of the competition, which takes place on the first Sunday of August and has become a staple in Greenfield after three decades of racing . . .
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‘To finish is to win’ Hundreds expected at Greenfield’s 30th triathlon Sunday
8-3-2013_The Recorder_ Life & Times – Kathleen McKiernan
From June until August, Luke Toritto, 18, of Greenfield wheels his bike from his home or laces up his sneakers after work and takes to the pavement . . .
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