Portsmouth Resident to Compete in Amica Ironman on Sunday

A Portsmouth resident will compete in the 2011 Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island, taking place on Sunday, July 11.

Joe Boivin of Portsmouth will join the more than 1,300 athletes representing nearly 20 countries and 40 states at the fourth-annual event, which consists of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run.

A professional field consisting of some of the sport’s top contenders will vie for the title, including Viktor Zyemtsev, Tim Berkel, Philip Graves, Magali Tisseyre and Amanda Stevens, among others. The race offers a professional prize purse of $15,000 and 50 coveted age group qualifying slots to the 2011 Marine Corps Ironman World Championship 70.3, taking place on Sept. 11 at Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, NV.

Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island will use a variety of the state's scenic areas.

The 1.2-mile swim will be held at Lincoln Woods. Following the swim, athletes will ride bikes 56 miles through Blackstone Valley. Athletes will begin the ride on Route 116, George Washington Highway, and head north on Route 7, Douglas Turnpike.

Riders will pass through Chepachet, Clayville and Scituate before heading to Providence. Cyclists will finish at the State House and transition to the 13.1-mile run through Providence.

The two-loop run course leads athletes through the East Side and downtown Providence. The race finishes on the State House lawn, with a backdrop of the State House and Providence Place Mall.

Pro athletes leading the field at the 2011 Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island are expected to finish in approximately four hours with the men’s title winner crossing the finish line at approximately 9:50 a.m.  The majority of age group athletes will finish between five and seven hours and the official cutoff for the event is 3:30 p.m.