Laila Ali goes distance in New York City Triathlon

Over 3,000 people took a dip in the Hudson River early Sunday morning and it wasn't to escape the sweltering heat that has held New York City hostage over the past week.

The throngs of swimmers donning Lycra shorts and colored bathing caps were athletes competing in  the 12th Annual Aquaphor New York City Triathlon.

The world class event has grown from 683 triathletes in its first year to a lottery-based system to try and accommodate all the requests to participate.

One of this year's most well-known competitors in the Olympic-class distances of swimming, bicycling and running was the female boxing great Laila Ali.

The undefeated Ali— who retired in 2007— said it was her first time attempting a Triathlon —the 1.5-K swim, 40-K bike ride topped off with a 10-K run around Central Park— anywhere.  She had been working with a trainer with help from Aquaphor.

The daughter of boxing legend Muhammad Ali didn't disappoint and finished near the top of her class (Female 35-39 year-old) with a time of 3:06:22.

The Men's Champion was American Jordan Jones, 31, with a record time of 1:45:04 and the Women's Champion was another American Amy Bevilacqua, 34, with a time of 2:02:29.

The weather was more cooperative during this year's event.  The near-record temperatures— in the mid-nineties over the past few days— dipped and a late Saturday night thunderstorm passed by taking most of the humidity with it.

Last year, two competitors suffered heart attacks during the swimming phase of the competition and more precautions like additional re-hydration stations were notable.

Athletes from 44 states and 10 countries participated in the event— the only Olympic-distance Triathlon in New York City— and includes Pros, Para Triathletes (physically-challenged) and age groups from 18-77.

After the race, Ali said it was harder than she thought it would be but was "glad she did it."

Swimmer Dies During New York City Triathlon

Thousands of athletes participated in the 11th annual Nautica New York City Triathlon on Sunday.  The event included a 1500 meter swim in the Hudson River, a 40K bike race up the Henry Hudson River and finishes with a 10K run through Central Park.

This year's winner in the men's division was American Ben Collins who clocked in with a 1:48:11 time.  Fellow American and three-peat winner in the women's division was Rebeccah Wassner.  She crossed the finish line in 2:03:19.

Sadly, this year's event was marred by the death of a 64 year-old man who apparently had a cardiac arrest while finishing the swim portion of the race.  A 40 year-old woman was in critical condition after experiencing difficulty while in the river as well.

 Race director, Bill Burke said in a statement," On behalf of all of us in the triathlon community, our thoughts and prayers are with the athletes and their loved ones."

A swimmer died during the swim stage of the New York City triathlon three summers ago.

 Over 3,000 athletes, from 43 states and 26 countries, took the plunge into the Hudson from a 100th Street platform on the rainy, humid morning.  The dive in to the murky Hudson was almost an obstacle even before one person dove in.

The Department of Environmental Protection labelled the river uninhabitable until only last week, after a sewerage-treatment plant explosion-- 20 blocks up-stream-- three weeks ago, spewed waste into the river for a couple of days.  The water was rated safe by DEP standards a few days ago.

The dreary morning did nothing to discourage the eager participants and even a 40-minute delay, due to a car crash on the event's bike lane, couldn't break the spirits of this mix of pro and amateur athletes.

A nasty bike spill on the slippery highway and about a dozen runners treated for dehydration and exhaustion were the only other reported injuries.  The organizers line the event route with medical staff, tents and re-hydration station.  Nobody said a triathlon was a dip in the water, a bike in the park or a light jog--well, relatively speaking.

The Nautica Triathlon is the only olympic-distance triathlon in New York City.  It includes world-class professionals, ParaTriathletes (physically-challenged) and age-group participants (18-77).

Visually-impaired Aaron Scheidies was the top paratriathlete.  He completed the event with the aid of a "handler" in 3:09:33.

Tens of thousands of New Yorkers get up at dawn to cheer on the athletes along the river banks, on the sidewalks of the otherwise deserted streets and the tree-lined Central park roadways.  It's become an annual weekend-long city tradition for many and raises millions of dollars for various charities.