Triathletes from all over the New York Metropolitan area and beyond flocked to Oyster Bay last Sunday, Aug. 16, to compete in the area's largest and most prestigious triathlon - the 11th annual Seacrest-Tobay Triathlon.

The Seacrest-Tobay Tri consists of a 1 Kilometer Swim in Oyster Bay Harbor, a 15 Kilometer bike ride through Oyster Bay, Oyster Bay Cove and Laurel Hollow, and a 5 Kilometer Run to the Planting Fields Arboretum and back to the finish line at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park. A total of 964 individuals and teams completed this year's event, led by 45-year-old Fred Neinast of Rockaway Beach, who completed the course in one hour, one minute.

Included in the list of finishers was 26-year-old Maricar Marquez of Port Washington, a blind and deaf athlete who finished the course in 1:51:46. There was also a team representing the Oyster Bay Town Board, consisting of 12-year-old Annette Muscarella (daughter of Town Councilman Joe Muscarella), who did the swim leg of the Tri, 33-year-old Councilwoman Christine Preston, who did the bike leg, and 55-year-old Councilman Leonard Symons, who finished up with the Run.

Top local finishers included veteran triathlete Michelle Haller of Plainview, who took top honors in the women's 45-49 age group in 1:13:56, Jim Walsh of Plainview, who was the fifth place finisher in the Men's 45-49 age group in 1:10:57, and Odd Sangesland of Plainview, 2nd in the 65-69 age group in 1:31:10.

The Seacreast-Tobay Triathlon was a cooperative venture between the Town of Oyster Bay and the Plainview-Old Bethpage Road Runners Club, with Steve Winkler of the Road Runners Club serving once again as the race director, and Diane Blanchard of the Town's Recreation Department coordinating things for the town.

The event raises funds for three important local charities - the New York State Games for the Physically Challenged, the ASPIRE Program for the rehabilitation of young amputees, and the Friends of the Bay in Oyster Bay.

"We were thrilled at the success of this year's Tri, and at the great feedback we have received from so many of the competitors," noted Triathlon Director Steve Winkler. "This race was, once again, for everyone - the runners who dread having to swim, but feel great upon exiting the water, the athletes who don't even know how to shift gears on their bikes, but make it up Moore's Hill anyway, and the young and old alike. We had 12-year-olds and 71-year-olds cross the finish line. It is a true "people's race."