Marathoner Shay Dies During Olympic Trials

28-Year-Old Collapses 5-1/2 Miles Into Qualifying Race For Beijing Games

(AP)  Top distance runner Ryan Shay died during the U.S. men's Olympic marathon trials Saturday, overshadowing what was supposed to be a showcase day for the sport.

Shay collapsed about 5½ miles into the race and was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:46 a.m., New York Road Runners president Mary Wittenberg said. He was 28.

"It cuts a knife through everybody's hearts," said Wittenberg, whose group organized the race.

She said Shay received immediate medical attention. The medical examiner's office said an autopsy will be performed Sunday.

"There were several layers of medical response. It was very quick," said Wittenberg, who would not elaborate on what steps were taken.

Shay of Flagstaff, Ariz., hit the ground near the Central Park boathouse, a popular Manhattan tourist spot, during the 26.2-mile qualifier for the Beijing Games.

"He crossed right in front of me and stepped off the course," said runner Marc Jeuland of Chapel Hill, N.C., who did not see Shay collapse. "He nearly tripped me. He would not have been taxed at that point."

Ryan Hall, Dathan Ritzenhein and Brian Sell won the three spots on the men's marathon team, prevailing in a field of 131 that included Meb Keflezighi, silver medalist at the 2004 Olympics.

This was an unusual format for the trials, which began at Rockefeller Center before heading to Central Park for five loops. The aim was to maximize attention a day before the New York City Marathon, where millions usually line the streets.

A recreational runner died during last month's Chicago Marathon. This death, however, was especially startling considering Shay was an elite athlete.

"He was a tremendous champion who was here today to pursue his dreams," said Craig Masback, chief executive of U.S. track and field's governing body. "The Olympic trials is traditionally a day of celebration, but we are heartbroken."

It was in New York two years ago while watching the marathon that Shay met his future wife, Alicia, also an elite distance runner. Alicia was a college teammate at Stanford with Hall, and his wife, Sara. Sara Hall was a bridesmaid in their wedding in July.

"He had an incredible ability to push himself to the limit," Sara Hall said of Shay, with whom she and her husband used to train.

Alicia was a two-time NCAA champion and the collegiate 10,000-meter record-holder while running as Alicia Craig at Stanford. She was hoping to make it to Beijing in the women's 10,000 meters.

Shay was a favorite going into the 2004 trials but was hampered by a hamstring strain and finished 23rd. He was a five-time national road racing champion, winning the 2003 U.S. marathon, 2003 and 2004 half-marathon, 2004 20k and 2005 15k.

"If you probably asked him if there was any way he wanted to go, it was out on the race course," said Terrence Mahon, who coached Shay at Mammoth Lakes, Calif.

Shay was the NCAA 10,000-meter champion in 2001, the first national individual title in track for Notre Dame.

It was clearly a difficult day for Hall, who said at the start of his postrace news conference, "As great as the moment is, my heart and my thoughts are with Ryan Shay."

Hall, bellowing over the final mile with his victory ensured, had never run a marathon before April. But he served notice he could compete with the world's best when he made the fastest marathon debut by an American, finishing eighth against an elite field in London in April.

On Saturday, he won in a trials record time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, 2 seconds. He was followed by Ritzenhein in 2:11:07 and Sell in 2:11:40.

Khalid Khannouchi, the 35-year-old former world-record-holder who has never made an Olympic team, was fourth, nearly a minute behind Sell. Khannouchi, who has battled injuries, could earn a spot on the squad if Ritzenhein later qualifies in the 10,000 meters and chooses to compete in that race instead in Beijing.

Keflezighi, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist, was in the lead pack for much of the race but fell back to eighth.

Hall broke away from the leading pack of five runners at about the 17th mile. He looked relaxed and fresh the entire race, pumping his fists as he drew closer to the finish.

Hall came to Stanford as a miler but steadily moved up to longer distances over the years, finally realizing the marathon was his race.

"It's a big loss for the running community," said 2004 women's marathon Olympic bronze medalist Deena Kastor, who used to train with Shay. "It's a day we should be celebrating. It has cast a pall. The distance running community is very close."

News of Shay's death hit hard in Central Lake, Mich., where his parents are the cross country and track coaches at the local high school. Shay was one of eight running children in a family passionate about the sport.

His parents, Joe and Susan Shay, were not in New York on Saturday because they had two runners competing in the Michigan cross country state championships, said Central Lake High School athletic director Quinn Barry. They were on their way to New York, he said.

"This is a little town," Barry said by phone, his voice cracking. "People really rally around people like Ryan. We're deeply saddened. I always admired the way Ryan did things as an athlete. He did things the right way for the right reasons."

[nottellin1]

My heart goes out to Alicia Shay, how sad to loose her husband. That said, it just affirms what I believe, when it''s your time to go, you go. At least he left this life doing something that he loved.

[mediapreachr]

Oops,wrong section.Anyway we should wait for the coroner''s report to see if any drugs were involved.

[mediapreachr]

A new dictionary is compiled right now-because new terms appear everyday.
Ex-deregulation-free to gouge everyone especially the little guy with no fear of consequences.
Globalism-move your business from a country with laws and regulations to a country with no such things.Sell all the resulting products (doesn''t matter how poorly made) to the unsuspecting masses.You fill in the rest.

[alphaa10-2009]

In 1986, a cardiologist named Henry A. Solomon, in his book The Exercise Myth, wrote fitness is not necessarily a state of good health. He is quoted often to explain the deaths of ostensibly healthy runners ranging from Jim Fixx to Shay.

Fixx died of a cardiac infarct, and Shay at 28 could have entered the same zone of vulnerability. This is one possibility that will await the autopsy.

Meanwhile, the risk of athersclerotic plaque afflicts all Americans because of a diet that includes damaging trans fats, saturated animal fats and other elements that threaten to injure the endothelium, promoting plague deposits. Doctors see even kids with plaques, these days.

The only remedy is to become serious about what we eat-- less salt, high-glycemic carbohydrates, sugar, trans- and saturated animal fat-- and demand better foods at both the grocery and restaurant.

There is a prime role for exercise in extending life and health. Experts claim that exercise is just as important as diet in promoting good glucose metabolism and reducing cardiovascular disease. The body thrives on proper amount of exercise, done safely and regularly.

We need not run marathons to win our personal race against needless disease and disability.

[anniebanny]

WOW... NHProphet where ARE you coming from?!! A young man in his prime has died and you are spouting ...
who knows what about what?!
My sympathies got out to his family, close friends and all those who knew him. What a tragedy.

[Krazcarl]

Since my high school track days ditance running is the toughest it''s half physical half mental it was olimpic trials at 28 probably the last olympics he had a shot at and overdid it pushed himself to hard it happens I''ve seen men collapse running track before but they were OK. Hate to hear this bad news something ought to be done in his msmory.

[shanev137]

Just goes to show that staying in shape doesn''t always prolong your life.

[wolvi99]

Can anyone say steroids???

[keithle1]

Wow. Scary. 28 years old. Yeah, my first thought would be a heart condition. Not like he was an overweight person out there running. Seems like the medical people were right there.

[prinzowhales]

I guess enquiring minds will not find out what kind of sports drink or sneakers he was using...Nutrasweet--the deadly and dangerous aspartame--is used in some products...it breaks down into formaldehyde and fomic acid and other things that aren''t good for you...low Magnesium levels--even when serum Mg is normal--can lead to cardiac arrythmia and death. Caffeine can block the absorption of minerals...so many ways to kill yourself off the shelf without ever having a clue.

[richnj1]

FYI, I live very close to NYC and the weather today is quite chilly and overcast, so heat is not at all an issue.

[michellem99-2009]

Did he have a bad heart..Yer know heart problems..They look healthy but there has to be health issues..I am just a lay person. I am not sure what to think as the young just drop no reason it seem then it is their heart or something of this nature..Why..It is so sad.