Local Athletes Score in 17th Annual Vytra-Tobay Triathlon

A record field of nearly 1400 athletes gathered at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay on the morning of August 22 for the 17th annual edition of the Vytra-Tobay Triathlon and Tri-Relay, Long Island's largest multisport event. The tri consists of a 1 kilometer swim in Oyster Bay harbor, a 15 kilometer bike ride through Oyster Bay Cove and a 5 kilometer run up to the Planting Fields Arboretum and back to the exciting finish at Roosevelt Park.

Donna McMahon of Farmingdale crosses the finish line.

Top local individual finishers included past women's overall winner Donna McMahon of Farmingdale, who was the third female finisher overall this year in 1:08:32, Fred Benlein of Farmingdale, third in the 220 pound plus Clydesdale Weight Division in 1:32:45, Lorraine Heuther of Massapequa, who earned third place honors in the Women's 45-49 age group in 1:26:12, and Ray Townsend of Massapequa, who scored third in the 65-69 age group in 2:06:35.

The Vytra-TOBAY Triathlon was conducted under the auspices of the Town of Oyster Bay and its Department of Parks and Recreation and was managed by the Greater Long Island Running Club, with GLIRC's Jose Lopez serving as the "rookie" Triathlon Director. Vytra Health Plans was once again the most generous title sponsor of the event, the latest of the community and sports activities that this terrific corporate citizen supports. Thanks also go to the Bay Constable, the town lifeguards, the Nassau County Police Department, the Oyster Bay Auxiliary Police and the Emergency Services team from the Oyster Bay Fire Department ("Teddy's Boys") for ensuring the success of the event and the safety of the athletes.

Overall winners Damian Bergamaschi (second right) and Meredith La Rossa (third left) are congratulated by Tri Director Jose Lopez (third right), Danielle Davis (second left) and Melissa Gallagher (right) of title sponsor Vytra Health Plans, and "Theodore Roosevelt" (left).

Thanks also to "Theodore Roosevelt" (Jim Foote) who was on hand to lend a real Oyster Bay flavor to the event.

Proceeds of the event will once again go to the Long Island Alzheimer's Foundation, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Oyster Bay-based "Friends of the Bay."

Timing of the event was handled by JMS Racing Systems, utilizing the new AMB elite timing system.

"What a great day this is for the Town of Oyster Bay and all of Long Island," observed Jean Bohan of Oyster Bay, who rode the bike for the winning two person team in this year's Triathlon. "As someone who loves our Town of Oyster Bay, I am thrilled to have an event of this stature - and this much fun! - in our Town. Thanks go to Vytra, to Supervisor John Venditto and the town, and to the running club for staging this event once again."