A record field of nearly 1,400 athletes gathered at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay Sunday, Aug. 22, for the 17th annual edition of the Vytra-TOBAY Triathlon and Tri-Relay, Long Island's largest multi-sport event. The Tri consists of a 1K swim in Oyster Bay Harbor, a 15K bike ride through Oyster Bay Cove and a 5K run up to the Planting Fields Arboretum and back to the exciting finish at Roosevelt Park.

Top male and female finishers overall were 19-year-old Damian Bergamaschi of Lynbrook, who completed the course in 1 hour, 1 minute and 26 seconds, and 33-year-old Meredith La Rossa of Bellmore, who scored in 1:05:42. The first three-person team consisted of Sal Romanello, Ned Daily and Michael Nehr, who combined to finish in 59:45.

The top two-person team was made up of John Lovejoy and Jean Bohan, both residents of Oyster Bay. Lovejoy completed the swim and the run, and Bohan did the bike leg, as they combined for an excellent 1:04:59, substantially in front of the runner-up team of Melissa Gallagher and William Pennino representing title sponsor Vytra Health Plans.

Top individual finishers from Garden City included 39-year-old Rich Gregory, who was the third individual finisher overall in 1:03:15, Timothy Brosnan, who took first place honors in the Clydesdale Weight Division for runners age 40 plus in 1:15:56, Bradie Ann Dwyer, who scored fourth among the women in the 15-19 age group in 1:27:46, Francis Ricigliano, who earned second place laurels in the 40-44 age group in 1:10:41.

In addition, the family of Soo, Jessika and Valentino Wong of Garden City scored with second place honors in the Family Team Division, with Jessika Wong doing the swim, Soo Wong doing the bike and 16-year-old speedster Valentino Wong finishing up on the run. The Wong family finished with a combined time of 1:24:45.

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 (GLIRC), 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.

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 Long Island," Jean Bohan of Oyster Bay, who rode the bike for the winning two-person team in this year's triathlon, said. "As someone who loves Long Island, I am thrilled to have an event of this stature - and this much fun! - right here. Thanks go to Vytra, to Supervisor John Venditto and the Town of Oyster Bay, and to the Running Club for staging this event once again."