Athletes collapse in heat; several treated at cross country event

Athletic director: Temperatures were within normal range determined by MSHSAA

Spectators tend to a cross country runner who collapsed on the course Saturday at the Jim Marshall Cross Country Invitational. Eleven female athletes had to be treated at the scene.
Spectators tend to a cross country runner who collapsed on the course Saturday at the Jim Marshall Cross Country Invitational. Eleven female athletes had to be treated at the scene.

Emergency personnel at the Jim Marshall Cross Country Invitational got a little more than they bargained for Saturday morning, when warm temperatures caused 11 female athletes to seek medical treatment after the varsity race.

The invitational, which is hosted by Jefferson City High School, includes runners from area teams and others from around the state, and is held at Cole County Park, near the fairgrounds.

As the girls started crossing the finish line, one went down and was helped by the two-man ambulance crew and the two athletic trainers from St. Mary's Health Center already at the event. Another went down near the last curve before the finish line.

Emergency medical technicians at the scene called dispatch for more help.

An official said three of the girls were transported from the scene to local hospitals, and five other girls were given intravenous fluids at the scene, with many seemingly suffering from dehydration.