While about 2,800 athletes competed in the 2009 Ford Ironman Arizona Tempe triathlon, ASU volunteers were there to help.
Running aid station No. 6 was managed by Michelle Jung and a combination of volunteers from the Student Recreation Complex, kinesiology students and members of the Kappa Delta sorority. The crew gave out Gatorade, water, health bars, gels, orange slices and bananas to the athletes running by.
Jung, assistant director of Campus Recreation, has been “captaining” the booth for four years. She said seeing the athletes push themselves to the limit is inspiring.
“The professional competitors are going so fast even after all they’ve finished ... and we have seen people literally hobbling by to finish. It’s awesome to see that determination in the athletes.”
The money earned from Jung’s station is being donated to the nonprofit group Recreation and Athletics for the Disabled.
Matt Kipper, the triathlon captain for ASU Cycling and Triathlon, captained bike aid station No. 4., which was manned by volunteers from the ASU Cycling and Triathlon club and Kappa Delta sorority.
It was the second year the cycling club has handled the station, he said.
Kipper said the event was a way for the club to give back to the cycling community, and the money it earned in the past has helped the club purchase equipment.
“The club does this event every year, and we are excited to do it again,” he said. “Ironman has a competition among the aid stations that judges the theme and overall cleanliness of a station. We got second last year.”
Kipper’s booth had a Hawaiian theme that included men in Speedos and people in Hawaiian costumes.
Alex Rosen, a broadcast journalism junior and Cycling and Triathlon club member, said he was happy to work the booth and help athletes do something incredibly difficult like the Ironman.
“Even if it means soaking up sun in November and handing out food, I’m willing to do something nice for these world-class athletes,” he said.
Kelly Weber, a biology sophomore, Kappa Delta Treasurer and member of the Cycling and Triathlon club said being a triathlete herself, she was happy to help others.
“Even though we had to wake up early, it was worth coming out to help support the triathletes … the Ironman is the gold standard of triathlons — it’s fun to come out and see the pros.”
Kinesiology junior Brittany Krisak volunteered at the station for the second time. The group’s goal was to have the cleanest aid station and seeing the contestants was amazing, she said.
“The athletes write their ages on the back of their left calf. We’ve seen people in their 70s and 80s along with a guy who has a prosthetic leg and a paraplegic,” Krisak said. “It’s pretty amazing to think about the lengths they’ve gone to for this event.”
Jung said she would like to see more ASU students and groups at the event in the future.
“I would love for more ASU groups to get involved. You get $500 for running an aid station … and it’s a good opportunity to see some amazing athletes.”
Reach the reporter at cjmcgann@asu.edu.
