Ryan Shay
Encyclopedia
Ryan Shay was an American
professional long-distance runner. He was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan
, and attended the University of Notre Dame
. He was married to Alicia Craig
, also an American distance runner. Shay is survived by his wife Alicia, parents Joe and Susan, and his seven siblings: Jodie, Casey, Sarah, Amie, and younger brothers Nate (who also was a distance runner at Notre Dame), Elliott and Stephan.
, home of the Trojans, from 1993 to 1997. He won every cross country meet he competed in following the third meet of his freshman year (1993), including four consecutive Class-D MHSAA
Lower Peninsula (LP) state cross country meets from 1994 to 1997. He was a three-time consecutive Class D MHSAA LP state champion in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter runs from his sophomore through senior track seasons (1995 through 1997), and also won the Class-D MHSAA LP state title in the 800-meter run as a sophomore. He was also his class valedictorian. His fastest time was a 13:35 in the 5K. Shay graduated at the top of his class.
, half-marathon, 20 km and 15 km. Shay also competed during the 2005 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
, finishing 15th in the men's individual race. Shay finished in 23rd place in the 2004 Men's Olympic Marathon Trials.
, Shay collapsed approximately 5 miles (9 km) into the race at 8:06 a.m. He was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital
, where he was pronounced dead at 8:46 a.m. Doctors at the hospital who examined him reported that he died of a massive heart attack
, due to a pre–existing enlarged heart
condition. Autopsy results were initially inconclusive, leading to speculation over other possibilities for his death
On March 18, 2008, Ellen Borakove, the Director of Public Affairs of the New York
Chief Medical Examiner's Office released the following statement to Joe Shay, Ryan's father, regarding his final autopsy results:
"Cardiac arrhythmia due to cardiac hypertrophy with patchy fibrosis of undetermined etiology. Natural causes."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional long-distance runner. He was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, and attended the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. He was married to Alicia Craig
Alicia Craig
Alicia Craig, also known as Alicia Shay, in Gillette, Wyoming, is an American distance runner. She is a two-time NCAA 10,000 meter champion. In 2004, she set the women's collegiate 10,000-meter record in just her third race. She ran at Stanford University...
, also an American distance runner. Shay is survived by his wife Alicia, parents Joe and Susan, and his seven siblings: Jodie, Casey, Sarah, Amie, and younger brothers Nate (who also was a distance runner at Notre Dame), Elliott and Stephan.
High school
Ryan Shay attended Central Lake High School in Central Lake, MichiganCentral Lake, Michigan
Central Lake is a village in Antrim County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 990 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Central Lake Township.-Geography:...
, home of the Trojans, from 1993 to 1997. He won every cross country meet he competed in following the third meet of his freshman year (1993), including four consecutive Class-D MHSAA
Michigan High School Athletic Association
-About:The Michigan High School Athletic Association is a service organization for high school sports in Michigan and is headquartered in East Lansing...
Lower Peninsula (LP) state cross country meets from 1994 to 1997. He was a three-time consecutive Class D MHSAA LP state champion in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter runs from his sophomore through senior track seasons (1995 through 1997), and also won the Class-D MHSAA LP state title in the 800-meter run as a sophomore. He was also his class valedictorian. His fastest time was a 13:35 in the 5K. Shay graduated at the top of his class.
College
Shay continued running as a student-athlete at the University of Notre Dame in the fall of 1997, majoring in economics and competing in both cross country and track. He was a 9-time All-American while competing at Notre Dame. Shay was the first Notre Dame runner to win a NCAA individual title, winning the 10,000-meter run at the 2001 NCAA outdoor meet in a time of 29:05.44. Shay graduated as the school record holder in both the indoor and outdoor 5,000-meter runs, as well as the 10,000-meter run. He graduated in the top of his class.Post-collegiate/professional
Following college, Shay ran professionally, winning races at various distances, including marathonMarathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
, half-marathon, 20 km and 15 km. Shay also competed during the 2005 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
2005 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
The 14th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships were held in Edmonton, Canada on 1 October 2005. This was the final World Half Marathon Championships to be staged, the competition being replaced by the World Road Running Championships in 2006. A total of 156 athletes, 87 men and 69 women, from 43...
, finishing 15th in the men's individual race. Shay finished in 23rd place in the 2004 Men's Olympic Marathon Trials.
Achievements
- 2005 USATF 15 km Champion
- 2004 USATF 20 km Champion
- 2004 USATF Half-Marathon Champion
- 2003 USATF Half-Marathon Champion
- 2003 USATF Marathon Champion
- 2001 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Champion (10000-meter run)
- 2001 Big East Conference Outdoor Track & Field Champion (10000-meter run)
- 2001 Big East Conference Indoor Track & Field Champion (5000-meter run)
- 2000 Big East Conference Outdoor Track & Field Champion (5000-meter & 10000-meter runs)
- 1999 Big East Conference Cross Country Champion
- 1999 Big East Conference Indoor Track & Field Champion (3000-meter run)
Death
On November 3, 2007, during the US Olympic marathon trials in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Shay collapsed approximately 5 miles (9 km) into the race at 8:06 a.m. He was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital
Lenox Hill Hospital
Lenox Hill Hospital, on Manhattan's Upper East Side in New York City, is a 652-bed, acute care hospital and a major teaching affiliate of New York University Medical Center. Founded in 1857 as the German Dispensary, today's 10-building Lenox Hill Hospital complex has occupied its present site since...
, where he was pronounced dead at 8:46 a.m. Doctors at the hospital who examined him reported that he died of a massive heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, due to a pre–existing enlarged heart
Cardiomegaly
Cardiomegaly is a medical condition wherein the heart is enlarged. It is generally categorized in the following manner:* Cardiomegaly due to dilation* Cardiomegaly due to ventricular hypertrophy** Left ventricular hypertrophy...
condition. Autopsy results were initially inconclusive, leading to speculation over other possibilities for his death
On March 18, 2008, Ellen Borakove, the Director of Public Affairs of the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Chief Medical Examiner's Office released the following statement to Joe Shay, Ryan's father, regarding his final autopsy results:
"Cardiac arrhythmia due to cardiac hypertrophy with patchy fibrosis of undetermined etiology. Natural causes."
External links
- U.S.A. Track & Field Profile
- Notre Dame Athletic Website
- 28-Year-Old Marathoner Dies in Olympic Trials (New York Times)
- Small Town Mourns a Running Marvel (New York Times)
- Still No Answer on What Caused Runner's Death (New York Times)
- After a Death, Time for Life and a Race (New York Times)
- USATF comment on the death of Ryan Shay
- Associated Press- Star Runner Dies During Marathon Trials
- Discussion of possible causes of death for Ryan Shay (Science of Sport)
- Pure Heart: Amby Burfoot writes of Shay in the February 2008 issue of Runner's World