Two die while running Philadelphia Marathon
Two runners died during the annual running of the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 20, according to Melanie Johnson, executive director of the race weekend.
The runners, identified only as an Asian male who was 21 and a white male who was 40, collapsed less than a mile from the finish line. They were transported by ambulance to Hahnemann University Hospital, and it was later released that both had died of heart attacks. The identities of the men has not been released as of Wednesday.
Race organizers say the race is open to anyone who wishes to participate, and that no physical qualifications or qualifying times are required for entry. Weather conditions for the race were fair, with very cool temperatures and little wind.
In addition to the two men who later died, 10 others were transported to the hospital for various injuries and illnesses suffered during the race. For the 2011 race, more than 35,000 runners participated, and more than 60,000 watched from the sidelines. The race is run through the streets of Philadelphia each November, and includes a route past the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross’s house and along the Schuylkill River.
The men’s race was won by Folisho Tuko of New York, and the woman’s rice was won for the second consecutive year by a Dutch woman named Mariska Kramer.