Ryan Shay facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Born | May 4, 1979 Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA |
| Died | November 3, 2007 (aged 28) New York City, USA |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg) |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Track, Long-distance running |
| Event(s) | 5000 meters, 10,000 meters, Marathon |
| College team | Notre Dame |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Highest world ranking | No. 9 |
| Personal best(s) | 5000m: 13:35.08 10,000m: 28:03.44 Marathon: 2:14:08 |
| Updated on 27-11-2008. | |
Ryan Shay (born May 4, 1979 – died November 3, 2007) was an American professional long-distance runner. He was known for winning several national championships in the USA. Ryan was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and went to the University of Notre Dame. He was married to Alicia Craig, who was also a distance runner.
Contents
Ryan Shay's Running Journey
High School Achievements
Ryan Shay went to Central Lake High School from 1993 to 1997. He was an amazing cross country runner. After his first few races in 1993, he won every cross country meet he entered. This included winning four state championships in a row from 1993 to 1996.
He also excelled in track and field. From 1995 to 1997, he won the state title three times in both the 1600-meter and 3200-meter runs. As a sophomore, he also won the 800-meter state title. Ryan was not just a great athlete; he was also at the top of his class in academics.
College Running Career
In 1997, Ryan continued his running career at the University of Notre Dame. He studied economics and competed in both cross country and track. During his time at Notre Dame, he earned the title of All-American nine times. This means he was recognized as one of the best college athletes in the country.
Ryan was the first runner from Notre Dame to win an individual NCAA championship. He won the 10,000-meter run at the 2001 NCAA outdoor meet. He also set school records for the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter runs. Ryan graduated as one of the top students in his class.
Professional Running Career
After college, Ryan Shay became a professional runner. He won many races at different distances. These included marathons, half-marathons, and shorter races like 15 km and 20 km.
In 2005, Ryan competed in the 2005 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. He finished 15th in the men's race. He also took part in the 2004 Men's Olympic Marathon Trials, where he finished 23rd.
USA Running Circuit Success
Ryan was a five-time national champion in road races. He won titles in the 15 km, 20 km, and marathon, and won the half marathon twice.
In 2003, Ryan was named the USA Running Circuit Champion. He won the USA Half Marathon Championships and the USA Marathon Championships that year. He also placed third in two other national races.
He won the USA Running Circuit Champion title again in 2004. That year, he won the USA Half Marathon Championships and the USA 20 km Championships. He also finished second in two other races and third in another. Ryan continued to do well in the circuit, finishing second in 2005 and third in 2006.
Ryan Shay's Passing
On November 3, 2007, Ryan Shay was competing in the US Olympic marathon trials in New York City. About 5.5 miles (9 km) into the race, he collapsed. He was quickly taken to the hospital.
Doctors later reported that Ryan died due to a heart condition. This condition caused his heart to stop working properly during the race. Later, the medical examiner's office confirmed that his death was due to natural causes related to a heart problem.
Major Achievements
- 2005 USATF 15 km Champion
- 2004 USATF 20 km Champion
- 2004 USATF Half-Marathon Champion
- 2003 USATF Half-Marathon Champion
- 2003 USATF Marathon Champion
- 2001 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Champion (10000-meter run)
- 2001 Big East Conference Outdoor Track & Field Champion (10000-meter run)
- 2001 Big East Conference Indoor Track & Field Champion (5000-meter run)
- 2000 Big East Conference Outdoor Track & Field Champion (5000-meter & 10000-meter runs)
- 1999 Big East Conference Cross Country Champion
- 1999 Big East Conference Indoor Track & Field Champion (3000-meter run)
