Swimmer in his 50s dies during triathlon in Vt.

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - A man competing in the USA Triathlon in Vermont has died after being pulled from a lake during the swimming portion of the race.

USA Triathlon officials say safety personnel noticed the man just after 8 a.m. Saturday at the three-quarter point of the swim course, at Lake Champlain in Burlington. Rescuers pulled him from the water and performed CPR. He was pronounced dead at a Burlington hospital.

USA Triathlon officials say the man was in his 50s, but they did not release his name. They say all participants must qualify to compete in the Olympic-Distance race, which includes a 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-kilometer bike ride and 10-kilometer run.

Spokesman Chuck Menke says more than 2,300 athletes participated in the race.

This is the second-straight year Burlington hosted the triathlon.