Time for Mandatory Wetsuits?

I'm wondering. They do increase buoyancy, and if folks are going to die during triathlons, it looks like most of them will die during the swim leg. Sigh. I'm thinking I'll need a good coach before I get back into the water.

Search under way for missing triathlon swimmer

by Tony Hagen/The Times

Sunday July 27, 2008, 3:42 PM

WEST WINDSOR -- Police and rescue workers were searching Sunday afternoon for a 52-year-old township man who failed to emerge from Lake Mercer in the swim portion of the New Jersey State Triathlon.

Police revealed no other details of the West Windsor man's identity. Police said his fiancee reported him missing after the triathlon.

Martin Griff / The TimesRescuers search for missing swimmer in Lake Mercer Sunday.

The third annual Mercer County triathlon held at Mercer County Park was expected to draw 2,500 competitors from 42 states and other countries and up to 7,000 spectators.

There were two separate races in the triathlon. One consisted of a 1.5 kilometer swim, a 23 mile bike ride and a 10 kilometer run. The second, shorter race included a 500 meter swim, an 11.5 mile bike ride and a 5 kilometer run.

The missing contestant had entered the shorter race. The search was expected to resume Monday.

Martin Griff / The TimesTriathlon contestants in the swim portion work their way across Lake Mercer.

In the more challenging race, swimmers were expected to enter the water at Mercer Beach and swim a roughly rectangular course that stretched down the center portion of the lake. The shorter course followed a 90 degree angle that led from one beach to the parking area.

What began as a gala event for the county and a revenue generator ended in chaos as severe storm activity overturned tents set up for the occasion and scattered debris across the areas established for the event.