Over 1,000 individual athletes and 79 teams successfully completed the 21st annual Runner's Edge-TOBAY Triathlon on Sunday morning, Aug. 24. The event, which was centered at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay, consisted of a 1 kilometer swim in Oyster Bay Harbor, a 15 kilometer bike ride heading east out of the park through Oyster Bay Cove and back, and a 5 kilometer run up to Planting Fields Arboretum and back to the finish up Bayside Avenue and back to the Park.

The top finisher overall for the second year in a row was 34-year old German superstar Takao Muehlen in 58:31, who competes for Team Total training. Takao, who was the 10th athlete out of the water, took the lead in the bike leg and was never headed, as he finished more than three full minutes in front of 26-year old Will Iaia of Patchogue. Twenty-nine year old Peter Ventura of Glen Cove was third, and 32-year old Kevin Cunningham of Old Bethpage was fourth.

The first woman to cross the finish line was 41-year old Kerry Simmons of Point Lookout, a third-time winner in 1:05:50, scoring a scant 9 seconds in front of runner-up Michelle Henschel of Bellmore. Twenty-five year old Felicua Wagner of Islip Terrace, who was the first woman out of the water, finished third in the women's division.

First Masters finisher was 43-year old David Wissemann of Islip Terrace, 11th overall in1:05:48. The oldest finishers were Odd Sangesland of Plainview, who scored with a 1:48:22 at age 79, and 61-year old Donna Hahl of Valley Stream in 1:58:40 for the women.

The top local finisher was 20-year old Michael Di Donato of Massapequa, who was the first athlete out of the water and held on to score as the seventh finisher overall in 1:04:42.

Other local athletes winning awards included Michael Signorelli of Masapequa (1st 40-44 Age Group, 1:07:15), Chris Daily of Farmingdale (2nd 45-49 Age Group, 1:10:24), Lorraine Heuther of Massapequa (3rd Woman 50-54 Age Group, 1:24:12), Bob Cook of Farmingdale (5th 60-64 Age Group, 1:25:00), Victoria Belegribo of Massapequa Park (4th woman 20-24 Age Group, 1:29:56), Christina Totino of Massapequa (5th woman 20-24 Age Group, 1:30:18), and Lisa La Foucade of Massapequa (2nd Athena Master 160 pounds plus, 1:48:07).

As a prelude to the main event, 220 youngsters ages 8 through 13 successfully completed the fourth annual Runner's Edge-TOBAY Junior Triathlon on Saturday morning, Aug. 23. The Junior Tri consisted of a 200 yard swim paralleling the beach in Roosevelt Park, a 2.5 mile bike ride and a 1 mile run, with the bike and run courses entirely within the confines of Roosevelt Park.

The Runner's Edge - TOBAY Triathlon was a joint effort of the Greater Long Island Running Club and the Town of Oyster Bay Parks Department, with GLIRC's Ray Farrell and Jose Lopez serving as the co-Directors of the event, Mindy Davidson serving as the Coordinator of Volunteers, and TOBAY Recreation Supervisor Diane Ramos serving as the Town's liaison. Medical assistance was provided by the Emergency Medical Team of the Oyster Bay Fire Department, and key logistical support was provided by the Town's Department of Public Safety.

Race organizers very much appreciated the support of title sponsor The Runner's Edge and its proprietor Bob Cook, and Kristel Management Ventures. An extra special thank you to Oyster Bay Town Councilwoman Rose Walker, and District Court Judge Rhonda Fischer, who was on hand on Sunday.