DALLAS — A 32-year-old runner collapsed and later died after crossing the finish line during the Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon in Dallas Sunday morning.
Emergency crews at the scene performed CPR on Mark Austry shortly after 10 a.m. He was rushed to Baylor University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead around noon.
Austry, a former Texas Tech first baseman, had just crossed the finish line at Dallas Fair Park after completing the 13.1-mile run in the first-ever Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon. Austry is from Lantana, Texas.
The Fort Worth native lettered at Tech from 1998 to 2000 after transferring from Coastal Carolina.
More than 13,000 runners took part in the race, which benefits the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. It's one of a series of races that take place in 14 states and 10 countries.
Organizers of the Dallas event released a statement saying they are saddened by the tragic loss and are in contact with family members, who have requested privacy.
This is the second running death in Dallas since December 2008, when Erin Lahr died while running the White Rock Marathon. A permanent marker is now along the race route where she collapsed.
Lahr, an experienced runner, had an undiagnosed heart problem.
The Dallas Morning News contributed to this report.
E-mail mharris@wfaa.com
