Columbian Robert Vigorito made his annual predawn incursion into Centennial Park this morning.
About the same time this newspaper hit your driveway, the race director for the Columbia Triathlon was hard at work overseeing the 18th version of the nationally known event.
"I want to create memories for people," said Vigorito, who has been involved with the triathlon since its inception and race director since 1986. "You make friends for life here. There's a special bond among triathletes, perhaps because the majority of us do it [not only] as an enjoyment of the sport but as a commitment, also. It's our May Day party."
The multisport endurance competition has come a long way since 90 athletes entered the first Columbia Triathlon in 1984.
This year's field comprises more than 1,000 participants. Entry closed six weeks before this year's event. Seventy percent of the field comes from out of county. The sport's famous names, such as Ironman winner Scott Tinley, have competed. National triathlon magazines have rated Columbia's one of the top in the country.
All of this is music to Vigorito's ears.
"I liken this to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra," said "Vigo," as he is known in the community. "Individually, all the musicians are professionals and good and all that, but they need a good conductor. The conductor who sets the tone, pace, practice, signs contracts, gets people focused.
"I liken my job [to] that. I like to say I feel I'm a pretty good conductor, but I wouldn't be anything if I didn't have a band of professional musicians that are the best. I feed off them, they feed off me, and we all get together as one big family doing this."
An estimated 700 volunteers and the triathlon committee of 14 in addition to Vigorito band together.
"When you look at the park, it's incredible the transformation that it will make in 48 hours between Friday and Sunday afternoon," said Alan Davis, the assistant race director. "You can pull up to the park on Sunday and never know a major national event was held there. They are that good at getting it all taken care of."
Davis, too, has been there from the beginning. Princeton Sports & Travel, of which he is president, was founded by his grandparents in 1936 and has long been a major sponsor. Princeton's support has made a lasting impression on many, especially Dr. Jerry Casper.
Casper, a pediatric dentist from Columbia, is one of two athletes to have competed each of the 18 years.
