Mineola superstar Barbara Cronin-Stagnari scored as the first woman to cross the finish line of the 15th annual edition of the Vytra-TOBAY Triathlon, held in and around Oyster Bay on Sunday morning, Aug. 18. Barbara, who had finished as the third woman in the 2001 edition of the event, crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 2 minutes, 16 seconds, shaving nearly seven full minutes off her 2001 time.

Nearly 1,400 athletes finished the 1 kilometer swim in Oyster Bay Harbor, 15 kilometer bike through Oyster Bay Cove and 5 kilometer run up to the Planting Fields Arboretum and back to the finish in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, continuing Vytra-TOBAY's record as the largest triathlon in the New York Metropolitan area.

Proceeds of the Vytra-TOBAY Triathlon go to the Long Island Alzheimer's Foundation, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and the Oyster Bay-based Friends of the Bay.

This year's triathlon was conducted by the Town of Oyster Bay's Department of Recreation and Parks and managed by the Greater Long Island Running Club, with Vytra Health Plans returning as the much welcome corporate title sponsor. Steve Winkler once again did a bang-up job as the director of the triathlon, as did David Katz of Finish Line Road Race Technicians as the technical director. Coordinators of Volunteers Mindy Davidson and Sherry Bellovin led a crew of 150 volunteers from the Greater Long Island Running Club who staffed the event.

"We were thrilled with the turnout, thrilled with of Barbara's impressive victory, and thrilled with the backing of Vytra Health Plans and the Town of Oyster Bay for what has become one of the biggest and best triathlons in the Northeastern United States," noted Triathlon Director Steve Winkler. "The Vytra-TOBAY Triathlon gets bigger and better every year. That's a continuing tribute to the fact that triathlons in general continue to grow in popularity and the equally important fact that Vytra Health Plans, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto and the Oyster Bay Town Board all recognize the importance of promoting physical fitness and recreational sports. We thank them all for their continued support for Long Island physical fitness programs!"