Doak sets sights on sub-11 Ironman

By John Vellante  |  October 7, 2007

Patrick Doak of Concord is gearing up for his fourth straight Ironman World Championship triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on Saturday.

Doak, 39, qualified for what is often referred to as the most grueling test in sports by winning the physically challenged division of the Buffalo Springs Lake Triathlon this summer.

In the past three Ironmans, Doak has gotten progressively better. In 2004, he was clocked in 12 hours 53 minutes. He lowered that to 12:15 in 2005 and to 11:55 in 2006. This year, he said, he's eyeing a sub-11-hour triathlon, which, he predicts, should be good enough to win.

"That's my goal, under 11 hours, and I think that is pretty realistic," said Doak, paralyzed from the waist down at the age of 10 when a hunting rifle accidentally discharged and hit him in the back. "This is my fourth year there, I have some experience, and I now have a professional coach [Chris Ramsey of Acton] who has helped me tremendously. Over the last couple of years, I haven't focused on each and every workout. Chris has helped me with that and now every workout has a meaning. I've gone to a new kneeling handcycle bike design, which gives me more power as opposed to aerodynamics.

"I know cutting 55 minutes off my time of a year ago is aggressive, but I honestly feel that I'm there. If sub-11 hours doesn't win, then I know I would have gotten beat by someone truly better. But I know the competition and I think the odds are in my favor. That is, if the weather cooperates. You never know how the wind will be blowing in Hawaii."

The Ironman is a 2.4-mile ocean swim, a 112-mile bicycle race, and a 26.2-mile run. Doak will be one of more than 1,800 competitors from 49 countries.

A tip of the hat to Dracut senior Jimmy Tully, who scored his 50th career goal in a 3-0 soccer win over Lawrence.

Central Catholic stayed very much alive in the Merrimack Valley Conference title picture with a 3-1 win over Billerica. Senior KB Oshodi had a hand in all three goals, scoring two and assisting on the third.

Wilmington's Vinny Papageorgiou rang up his fourth straight shutout but got no offensive help in a scoreless draw with North Reading.

Concord-Carlisle's boys (6-0-1) and Acton-Boxborough's girls (7-0) are the leaders in the Globe Top 20 soccer poll. Lexington's boys, after their 2-1 loss to Stoneham, fell from first to second. Despite the Lexington win Stoneham fell from 14th to 16th after a loss to Melrose.

The North Andover girls' soccer team raced to its eighth win in nine starts, 2-0, over number three and previously undefeated Newburyport (8-1). Jen Pino scored twice in the game's last six minutes, and goalkeepers Maya Miatowski and Kelly O'Connor combined for nine saves.

There were smiles all around after Hilary O'Brien's goal and Kiara Zani's goalkeeping propelled North Reading to a 1-0 field hockey win over Wilmington. The Hornets had not won since beating Lynnfield, 1-0, in 2003.

North Andover remained perfect (11-0) after blanking Rockport, 5-0. Lauren Gaffny scored her 15th and 16th goals of the season, and Krissy Whitley chipped in with a pair.

Rebecca Guselli had a Methuen single-match record 51 assists in a five-set, 3-2, volleyball win over Dracut. Lea Freeman chipped in with 19 kills and 20 digs.

Salem (N.H.) setter Lauren Delaney recorded her 1,000th career assist, but it came on a night when the Blue Devils saw their 28-match win streak snapped by Londonderry.

Salem's boys' volleyball team was a bit more fortunate, but was forced to four games before beating Keene for its 66th straight win.

Andover's girls' swim team, which saw its 99-meet win streak snapped late last month by Acton-Boxborough, bounced back with a big win over Lexington. Colleen Hespeier notched her first win of the season in the 500 freestyle.

Sammy Macy of Tewksbury was the Northeast-10 Conference field hockey freshman of the week after scoring four goals and assisting on another in University of Massachusetts at Lowell wins over Saint Michael's and Franklin Pierce.

Senior wide receiver Corey Williams of Billerica had a team-high 73 yards on five catches for the Saint Anselm football team in a 41-13 homecoming loss to C.W. Post.

Sophomore Steph Quinn is the starting goalie for the Connecticut College field hockey team and is averaging 6.67 saves per game and a 2.51 goals-against average after seven games. Eric Gomes's third goal of the season lifted number 20 Merrimack (9-2-2) to a 1-0 double-overtime soccer win over Saint Michael's. Gomes scored with 2:30 left on a header off a throw-in from Chris Bierbaum of Hingham.

Ideas or information may be sent to vellante@globe.com.