Tragedy stuck in the qualifying race for the US Olympic Marathon ,when Former US marathon champion Ryan Shay collapsed and died on Saturday during a qualifying race for the US Olympic marathon team.
The 28-year-old collapsed some nine kilometres into the 42.195km race in Central Park and even though he immediately received medical attention he could not be saved.
The head of New York City marathon Mary Wittenberg and the head of the US athletics federation Craig Masback said they were very saddened about Shay's death.
Ryan Shay, who won a total of five US championships, was one of the favourites to qualify for the 2004 Olympics, but an injury during the race forced him to withdraw.
A 2002 graduate of Notre Dame where he was an All-American, Shay went on to become the 2003 US marathon champion.His wife Alicia is also a professional runner.
The Central Lake, Michigan native was married on July 7 to two-time NCAA champion and collegiate 10,000-metre record-holder Alicia Craig, who he met in 2005 at the New York City marathon.
It is the second running death within a week in the US. A week ago a hobby runner collapsed and died during the Chicago marathon.
Alicia Craig the NCAA and Pac-10 Champion in the 10,000 meters ... Broke a 21-year-old school record in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA Championships with a time of 32:40.03.
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