It is with great sadness that I post this picture. Today was supposed to be one of the greatest days for American Distance Running. It was a return to the greatness the likes of Rodgers, Meyers, Beardsley, etc…
Ryan Hall won the marathon today in a blistering time of 2:09. At mile 18 he decided he had enough, and dropped a 4:32 mile on the competition to say goodbye to the pack. Some say he is the future of American Distance Running. I wouldn’t disagree completely. He’s definitely a huge part of it.
Then there’s the local hero, Brian Sell (not pictured).. He came in third to make the team. He finished in 2:11:40 on a course that is NOT easy. 2nd place was taken by Michigan native Dathan Ritzenheim (rockford HS).
So you have three guys that ran their hearts out, and made the team. Two from Michigan…I should be ecstatic.
Then there’s Ryan Shay. I believe he’s the only Michigan High School athlete to have ever won the cross country title four years in a row.
At mile 5.5 of today’s race, Ryan Shay collapsed. Medics were there immediately to give him CPR. He was pronounced dead less than an hour later. My heart goes out to his wife Alicia. I can’t even begin to imagine what she’s going through right now.
Whatever it is that you do in times like this, take a moment out of your day today for this Ypsi native, and honor a fallen Michigander. More of the tragic here.
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