Long Island’s biggest multi-sport event, the Runner’s Edge-Town of Oyster Bay Triathlon, was held in Oyster Bay late last month and featured several local athletes finishing with awards.
The triathlon, which is based in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay, consists of an 800-meter swim in Oyster Bay harbor, a 15-kilometer bike ride through Oyster Bay Cove and Laurel Hollow and a 5-kilometer run up to the Planting Fields Arboretum and back to the exciting finish at Roosevelt Park.
Many local athletes won awards in this year’s triathlon, including 56-year-old Kelly Pickard of Oyster Bay who scored as the first place Female Masters (age 40-plus) finisher. Bernadette Winnubst of Locust Valley was the first Female Masters finisher in the Athena Weight Division. Steve Quigley of Bayville earned first-place honors among the Masters Men in the Clydesdale Weight Division. Liam Gagliano of Oyster Bay won the fourth-place award in the 20-24 age group. Laura Denatale of Bayville earned fifth-place honors among the women in the 35-39 age group.
Maria Ehlinger of Oyster Bay scored fourth among the women in the 55-59 age group. Peter Castellana of Locust Valley was the fourth-place award winner among the men in the 55-59 age group. Bob Bartlotti of Oyster Bay earned fifth-place honors in the 60-64 age group. Richard Huminski of Oyster Bay took home the fourth-place award in the 65-69 age group.
Congratulations and thanks to event co-directors Jose Lopez and Ray Farrell of the host Greater Long Island Running Club for their hard work and to event coordinators Mindy Davidson and Linda Ottaviano for making sure that every detail was attended to.
The triathlon was once again conducted under the auspices of the Town of Oyster Bay, with Tobay Recreation Supervisor Diane Ramos serving as the town’s coordinator for the event. Thanks go to Bay Constable Mike Rich and Theodore Roosevelt Parks Manager Scott Russo for their invaluable help and to Public Safety Commissioner Justin McCaffrey and his staff for their most important support.
Legislator Rose Walker.
Thanks also go to the Nassau County Police Department and the Village of Oyster Bay Cove Police Department, Atlantic Steamer and Oyster Bay Fire Departments, event timer and scorer John Snitko of JMS Racing Services and event announcer Terry Bisogno.
The main charitable beneficiary of the 2016 Runner’s Edge Town of Oyster Bay Triathlon is the Life Enrichment Center at Oyster Bay. Other portions of the proceeds go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the fight against blood cancers and the Gerald Kaufman Memorial Fund dedicated to providing assistance to Long Island runners and multi-sport athletes in times of sudden financial need.
The Junior Triathlon was held on Aug. 27 and a record breaking field of 183 young athletes, ages 8 through 13, crossed the finish line at Theodore Roosevelt Park.
Top local finishers were 11-year-old Colby Santoro of Bayville in fifth-place overall and 10-year-old Miklos Argyelan Jr., also of Bayville.
—Submitted by the
Greater Long Island Running Club
