One Rockford resident secured a spot at the Ironman World Championship in Spain after competing in Sunday’s race right here in Rockford.
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>> ONE ROCKET RESIDENT SECURE THE SPOTTED ARM AND GROW CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SPAIN AFTER COMPETING IN SUNDAY’S RACE RIGHT HERE IN ROCKFORD, EYEWITNESSES REPORTER ELIZABETH. TALK TO HIM TONIGHT. >> AFTER THE IRONMAN IN ROCKFORD, 41 YEAR-OLD PATRICK MCINTYRE IS HEADING TO SPAIN. REALLY GRATEFUL PATRICK QUALIFIED IN THE 40 TO 44 AGE DIVISION GROUP, HE MADE THE TOP 5 PLACING 3RD OVERALL. I THINK I GAVE EVERYTHING I HAVE. I KNOW THE COMMUNITY GAVE EVERYTHING THEY HAVE. AND JUST TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH IT. HE WASN’T AWARE HE QUALIFIED UNTIL YESTERDAY. HE DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WHERE THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WAS A WEEK BEFORE SUNDAY’S RACE. >> FOUND MAYBE 2 HOURS BEFORE FOR SLOTS. SO ASKED MY WIFE WANT TO GO TO >> PATRICK TRAINED FOR MONTHS FOR IRON MAN. THE PRIOR TO THIS. HE TOOK A 6 YEAR BREAK FROM COMPETING, YET STILL REMAINED ACTIVE DAILY WHEN HE HEARD IRONMAN WAS COMING TO ROCKFORD. PATRICK SAYS HE HAD TO SIGN UP. THERE WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF AN INCH TO GET BACK COMPETING IN HIS HOME TOWN MEANT MORE THAN RECEIVING AN AWARD. >> THERE’S PLENTY PEOPLE FASTER THAN BUT I DON’T KNOW IF THERE’S ANYONE WHO APPRECIATED THIS RACE MORE THAN I DID BECAUSE IT JUST IT’S HOME. IT’S ROCKFORD. AS I SAID BEFORE, ROCKFORD STEPPED UP, GOT TO DO THIS OF MY FRIENDS. MY FAMILY. >> SPAIN IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY. PATRICK SAYS HE WILL TRAIN AND PUSH FOR THE NEXT 4 MONTHS TO GET READY FOR THE WORLD CH