21-Year-Old SoCal Man Dies After Running Philly Marathon

A 21-year-old Cerritos man was one of two deaths that took place this weekend at the Philadelphia Marathon. Jeffrey Lee, a University of Pennsylvania senior, collapsed right after crossing the finish line. He was taken to the hospital, where he died of an apparent heart attack, says The Daily Pennsylvanian, though no official cause of death has been indicated as of yet, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.Lee had participated in the half-marathon, and had a time of 1 hour, 58 minutes and 10 seconds. He had a pace of 9:02 and finished the first 10 kilometers in 53:45.

The nursing and business student graduated from Whitney High in Cerritos.

“We grieve that such a young and promising life has been taken from us so suddenly,” Penn President Amy Gutmann said in a statement. “At times like these we must come together as a community to mourn our loss and support the loved ones of Jeffrey Lee and one another.”

Lee is being remembered as someone who "created a warm, welcoming community at Penn with the student groups he’s in and the friends he has made,” said a classmate. Many of Lee's peers joined together after learning of their friend's sudden death to offer each other prayers and support.

Another man, a 40-year-old not from the University, also died at the same hospital after he collapsed during the marathon. The two deaths are "the first in the Philadelphia Marathon in more than a decade," and, says Philly.com, many of the thousands taking part or cheering runners on didn't necessarily take note of the men collapsing. "Officials did not announce the deaths until the race was over."