Georgia College and State University mourned the loss of runner John Bruner, who collapsed and died during the Missionary Ridge Road Race on Saturday morning.
“This is obviously a sudden loss,” said GCSU director of athletics Stan Aldridge. “John was a valued member of the athletic department, and our condolences go to the Bruner family in this tough time. It’s a terrible tragedy.”
A regular starter for the Bobcats as a freshman, he took 20th at the Peach Belt Conference Meet and also raced at the NCAA Division II South Regional.
“He was just an outstanding kid,” said GCSU cross country coach Joe Samprone. “Good student, good runner, good person. There was nothing but positives to say about John.”
The 19-year-old was near the end of the 4.7-mile race when he went down near the entrance to Bragg Reservation.
Dan Bailey, race director, said a volunteer nurse from the American Red Cross and two doctors who were at the race attended to the runner.
He was taken to Erlanger Medical Center, but he never regained consciousness, it was stated.
His father, Greg Bruner, director of operations at Shaw Industries, was also in the race and he had completed it when he learned about his son. His mother, Marge Bruner, also ran and was the female master's winner.
The Bruners are from Dalton, Ga. John also has a brother, 16, and a sister who is a senior at the University of Georgia.
John Bruner was the cross country captain at Dalton High School.
Last year in the Missionary Ridge event, he was third in his age group and finished 23rd overall.
Bill Collier, a friend of the Bruner family, said he saw John Bruner at the turnaround point and asked why he was wearing a cotton T-shirt on such a hot day. He said John did not reply.
Mr. Collier said he later passed John. He said, "I thought he was just having a bad day."
Mr. Bailey said, after the tragic incident, he called off the awards ceremony. He said he called all the runners together and a minister who was present gave a prayer.
The race is a fundraiser for the Red Cross. There were 230 participants.
The race began at 8 a.m. with the temperature in about the mid-80s. Mr. Bailey said, "It was a very hot day. It's a rough time to run - no question."
He said most runners finish the course in 25-35 minutes. He said the last runner, a man who is 85, finished in an hour and 33 minutes.