- Three runners lost their lives in separate race-related tragedies on 4 October 2026, leaving families and fellow athletes grieving
- A 24-year-old youth pastor shared a kiss with his wife before collapsing during the Portland Marathon
- A father of four and a participant in a major Welsh half-marathon were also among those mourned after the fateful weekend's events
Source: Getty Images
The running community is mourning after three participants died in separate incidents connected to races held on Sunday, 4 October 2026. The deaths were reported in Portland, Oregon, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Cardiff, Wales.
The victims included Treyton “Trey” Lara, a 24-year-old youth pastor who collapsed during the Portland Marathon, and John Meise, a 36-year-old father of 4 who died after taking part in the Milwaukee Lakefront Half Marathon. In Wales, organisers confirmed that a participant had died after the Cardiff Half Marathon.
The tragedies unfolded at separate events, and available reports have not established a common cause linking the deaths.
Youth pastor's final kiss with wife before marathon tragedy
According to KPTV, Lara had trained for months before competing in Portland. His wife, Audrey Shin-Lara, was cheering him on when he stopped to see her around the 18-mile mark.
“I saw him at 18, 19. He ran over and was able to smile and give me a kiss, and then he ran off, and he looked good,” she told the broadcaster.
Lara collapsed near mile 20 after suffering cardiac arrest. He was taken to hospital, where he died surrounded by family.
His wife said he had no known underlying medical conditions. He was a youth pastor and had recently helped establish Camp Genesis, a summer ministry for young people.
Source: Getty Images
Father of four and Welsh race participant also died
Meise collapsed during the Milwaukee Lakefront Half Marathon and later died in hospital. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office identified him on 5 October. The medical examiner reported that no medical history had been identified.
Meise leaves behind his wife, Lauren, and their 4 children.
Meanwhile, organisers of the Cardiff Half Marathon confirmed a participant's death after the 4 October race, which attracted more than 30,000 registered participants. They withheld further details out of respect for the family.
The three deaths have brought grief to families and running communities on both sides of the Atlantic. While the circumstances differ, the losses remind us that medical emergencies can happen during sporting events, even when participants have prepared extensively.
Marathon safety concerns resurface after earlier fatal incident
Briefly News previously reported that the death of a 22-year-old university student during the Utrecht Marathon in the Netherlands prompted renewed questions about race safety in hot weather.
The student collapsed during the race in unusually high temperatures, prompting officials to review the event's arrangements.
Source: Briefly News