Photo: Deceased runner William CavinessA 35-year-old Chicago Marathon runner collapsed 500 yards from finish line and died about two hours later, officials said.
The man, a firefighter from Greensboro, North Carolina was identified as William Caviness.
He collapsed near Roosevelt Road and Indiana Avenue where paramedics were able to determine he had a pulse, but he later died, officials said.
"Our hearts go out to his family," said Greensboro Dep. Fire Chief Clarence Hunter.
Authorities suspect Caviness suffered cardiac arrest, but the cause of death was pending autopsy results, according to a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner's office. He was pronounced dead at 12:03 p.m. at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, officials said.
Caviness, married with two children under five, was the captain of a fire engine crew for the Greensboro Fire Department, said Dave Coker, the president of the city’s firefighters’ union.
He was running to raise funds for the International Association of Fire Fighters Burn Foundation, which coordinates fire prevention efforts and supports burn victims. Before the race, he raised $2,475, well beyond his $2,000 goal, according to the Web site tracking his effort.
“We’re just heartbroken,” Coker said shortly after hearing of Caviness’ death. “Will was a competent company officer, a good father, a good husband and he spent his free time raising money for the IAFF Burn Foundation.”
Coker, who was once posted at the same firehouse as Caviness, remembered his colleague for his sarcasm and sense of humor. Though Caviness was “just one of the guys,” Coker said, he was also a skilled distance runner. Coker recalled a half-marathon they ran together in recent years.
“I don’t think I had made the halfway point and he had already met me coming back,” Coker said. “He was very fit, a tremendous runner,”
Statistics show incidence of sudden cardiac arrest in marathons involves 1 in 100,000 to 1 in 120,000 runners, according to the Chicago Marathon medical director George Chiampas.
"We know where these types of incidents occur," Chiampas said. "Because of that, we stage a large number of medical personnel in that final half-mile to mile as well as the finish line area. So there were five to six emergency medical physicians as well as EMS response 25 to 30 meters away from this individual. There was a response within seconds."
Caviness was in town with his wife and a brother to run the marathon, family members said. The brother and the man's wife were spectators and did not run in the race, according to family.
The course flag was yellow all day meaning less than ideal conditions, officials said. The last Chicago Marathon death was in 2007. At least 54 people were transported to local hospitals today compared to 100 last year. In 2009, 85 runners were taken to the hospital.
