Runner Dies in Tennessee Half Marathon

An unidentified 26-year-old man died on Saturday after finishing the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville, Tenn. The death is the first in the race's seven-year history and race officials have attributed his death to a "sudden cardiac event."

WBIR, the Nashville NBC affiliate, described race day conditions as a "hot day that saw an unusually high number of people seek medical attention." The medical director for the race, Dr. Lewis Maharan, said the heat was not a factor in the runner's death.

"This was not a heat-related incident. It was a cardiac incident. I can say that with certainty. . . . He was immediately taken care of," Maharan said.

News Channel 5 in Nashville spoke with race officials who said that the marathon was more than medically staffed to handle emergencies, with over 450 professionals on site. Even if the 80 degree temperature didn't cause the runner's death, it affected other participants as the women's marathon winner vomited several times after finishing.

Most of the runners that sought medical attention were taken to Nashville General Hospital. Hospital spokesperson Cathy Everett said more than 40 participants were treated, more than double the number from the previous year.