Talk:Ryan Shay

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I moved the uncited AP news story to this page for somebody to do soemthing with Particlebry 18:03, 3 November 2007 (UTC)


Shay was taken to Lenox Hill Hospital and was pronounced dead at 8:46 a.m., New York Road Runners president Mary Wittenberg said.

"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. The death came a day before the New York City Marathon, when millions usually line the streets in one of the sport's showcase days.

"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."

Shay was a favorite going into the 2004 trials but was hampered by a hamstring strain and finished 23rd. He was the 2003 U.S. marathon champion and was third at this year's U.S. 25K championships. He also won the U.S. half marathon in 2003 and 2004. He was the NCAA 10,000-meter champion in 2001, the first national individual title in track for Notre Dame.

Shay was the U.S. 20,000-meters (20K) road racing champion in 2004, making him a four-time national champion.

His wife, Alicia, also is a top distance runner. She was a two-time NCAA champion and the collegiate 10,000-meter record-holder while running as Alicia Craig at Stanford. She and Ryan met at the 2005 NYC Marathon and they married in July. Alicia was hoping to make it to Beijing in the women's 10,000 meters.

"My thoughts and prayers just go out to them and their family," said winner Ryan Hall, a college teammate of Alicia's at Stanford.

Shay, who was born in Michigan and graduated from Notre Dame, qualified for the trials at the 2006 Twin Cities Marathon.

Before the race, Shay said during a conference call he had moved from Mammoth Lakes, Calif., where he had been training with Team Running USA, to Flagstaff, where he was training at the Center For High Altitude Training.

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

AP Sports Writer Melissa Murphy in New York contributed to this story.

[edit] Needs a biographical approach, not 'recentism.'

Ok, the death today may be the impetus for this article being written, but clearly there's more to say than 'he died.'

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=ap-run--marathontrials-death&prov=ap&type=lgns

Shay was a favorite going into the 2004 trials but was hampered by a hamstring strain and finished 23rd. He was the 2003 U.S. marathon champion and was third at this year's U.S. 25K championships. He also won the U.S. half marathon in 2003 and 2004. He was the NCAA 10,000-meter champion in 2001, the first national individual title in track for Notre Dame.

Shay was the U.S. 20,000-meters (20K) road racing champion in 2004, making him a four-time national champion.

His wife, Alicia, also is a top distance runner. She was a two-time NCAA champion and the collegiate 10,000-meter record-holder while running as Alicia Craig at Stanford. She and Ryan met at the 2005 NYC Marathon and they married in July. Alicia was hoping to make it to Beijing in the women's 10,000 meters.

If he was the 2003 US marathon champion, as this article states, it's surprising there was no article prior to his death.

I wonder if there's an article for Ryan Hall, who won the race with a sub-2:10 time?Ryoung122 18:32, 3 November 2007 (UTC)

Good job, everyone, of expanding this from a 'stub' to an article in just one day.Ryoung122 12:15, 4 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Numbers vs. Proxies

OK, Sure, most adults know that 2007-1979=28. However, given that:

A. Many people do not know math B. Like it or not, this story was made more of due in part to Ryan's young age C. Ages are almost always given in obituaries D. If someone has not made it to the birthday, they are a year younger

Then it seems appropriate to have his age listed.Ryoung122 08:11, 6 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Cause of Death

It should not be speculated that the cause of Shay's death was an enlarged heart. Preliminary autopsies have shown no link between that factor and his death. The article needs to be changed to reflect the fact that although the direct cause of death was indeed a massive heart attack, there has been no link to the enlarged heart triggering the heart attack. I do not believe I can make this edit, and associated changes to references without corrupting the code of the article. Hopefully someone is able to do this.

The reference for the inconclusive autopsy is at the following address: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071104/SPORTS17/71104017/1065—Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.13.61.229 (talk) 16:27, 13 November 2007 (UTC)