Ryan Shay Has Tragically Passed Away

[FinishLinePundit]

Ryan Shay has tragically passed away, as confirmed by Mary Wittenberg (President/CEO of NYRR) in a post-race news conference. He had dropped out of the U.S. Olympic Trials mens’ marathon earlier due to an unknown condition. Further details are unknown at this time. Our hearts go out to his wife, Alicia, and his family, friends and teammates.

The sad report is available here.

[tafnut]

??!!
If this is true :shock: and it certainly seems to be, this is a huge tragedy for everyone concerned. RIP.

[RQ]

Apparently about 5 miles on a downhill part of the loop, Shay looked like he was going to sit down, but fell face first onto the pavement in front of Miguel Nuci.

This is awful.

[EPelle]

May (not) be related from RW interview a couple months back:

The year up to that point had been pretty much a disaster, with sports scientists at the USOC training camp in Chula Vista CA eventually telling him that he was suffering from Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome, aka severe total-body fatigue. Shay took it easy for a month, began a modest training buildup in August, and then felt great during the Oct. 1 marathon. "That was quite a shock--an eye opener," he says now. "It told me that maybe I used to push too hard."

http://dailynews.runnersworld.com/2007/ ... hon-4.html

[bhall]

Confirmed- "We have absolutely tragic news confirmed that Ryan Shay passed away today," Mary Wittenberg, CEO of the New York Road Runners Club said.

http://universalsports.nbcsports.com/ar ... port_id=34

[EPelle]

"We all are devastated over Ryan's death. He was a tremendous champion who was here today to pursue his dreams. The Olympic Trials is traditionally a day of celebration, but we are heartbroken. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ryan's wife, Alicia, and all of his family. His death is a tremendous loss for the sport and the long-distance running community."

http://usatf.org/news/view.aspx?DUID=US ... 3_08_38_06

[malmo]

This was just awful. Something you never think would happen. I have a friend who was an observer of the entire sequence of events as it unfolded. It left a damper on what should have been a day to celebrate.

My prayers to the Shay family and their friends.

[26mi235]

I am stunned and really feel for Ryan's family and especially for Alicia. It seems that the race didn't necessarily have anything to do with it as the pack hit 10k three minutes later in 32 and change. Year by year I have realized how mortal I am (and that it does not matter as much as it used to), but this is really a hard thing to fathom.

[George P.]

What a horrible tragedy - something you would never expect under the circumstances. My heart, and that of all runners, goes out to Alicia and the family.

[Conor Dary]

What a horrible tragedy - something you would never expect under the circumstances. My heart, and that of all runners, goes out to Alicia and the family.

This sadly reminds of another fine runner who died in his prime 20 years ago, AW's Jeff Drenth.

[Walt Murphy]

They just had a moment of silence for Shay before the start of the Notre Dame-Navy football game.

[tafnut]

Here's the USATF bio on him:

http://www.usatf.org/athletes/bios/oldB ... y_Ryan.asp

2005 USA 15 km champion; 2003 USA Marathon champion; 2003 & 2004 USA Half-Marathon champion; 2001 NCAA 10,000m champion; 2004 USA 20 km champion; 9-time NCAA All-American

Only 28 years old.

[EPelle]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/w ... index.html

[Brian]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/tim_layden/11/03/shay.death/index.html

This guy had such big balls when racing...I remember seeing him in that 2001 NCAA 10,000m.--he just led and fought off everybody. He hadn't made huge ripples as an open athlete, but with his talent and his drive, one was always expecting to see "New American Record" for some distance with his name in the morning paper...it seemed like he was physically getting ready for a breakthrough.

Coach Vigil spoke highly of him, as an athlete and as a man.


As I mentioned on another thread, there is a nice story on Salazar--career, coaching, and recent heart problems--in the latest Sports Illustrated; it hits home with this news. Especially the last paragraph.

[kuha]

Very shocking and terribly sad. As others have noted abocve, our sympathies to his family and friends.