Update on Kemoy Campbell’s Condition After He Collapsed at Millrose Games
By LetsRun.com
February 9, 2019
2/11 update on Kemoy’s condition can be found here.
NEW YORK — Kemoy Campbell, a Jamaican Olympian who ran at the University of Arkansas and now runs for the Reebok Boston Track Club, was the pacemaker in the men’s 3000 meters, but just after the one-kilometer mark, he slowed dramatically and collapsed, falling to the inside of the track. He spent the remainder of the race lying just inside the track surrounded by medical personnel. If you aren’t squeamish, you can see a video of Campbell falling here.
A journalist who wishes to remain anonymous told LRC he saw people giving Campbell chest compressions and soon after that he was being shocked with a defibrillator.
Campbell being attended to on track
All in all, Campbell was laying on the inside of the track for roughly 23 minutes. It was a surreal scene as much of the arena did not comprehend the seriousness of what was going on. The introductions and smoke for the shot put finals ocurred just meters from where Campbell lay. It appeared that shouting from people in the crowd then caused the shot put final to be put on hold. Shot putter Joe Kovacs had initially helped clear photo equipment near Campbell so medcial personnel could get near Campbell. Now he and others realized the seriousness of the situation and they kneeled in prayer for Campbell and didn’t resume the competition until Campbell left the track.
Campbell was then taken to New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, which is next door to the Armory. Jamaican journalist Andre Lowe gave an update on Twitter.
According to his agent Ray Flynn, Kemoy Campbell is in stable condition and is being treated by some of the best medical professionals. He had been complaining that he was not feeling well recently. His partner and brother are by his side at the hospital.
— Andre Lowe (@AndreLoweJA) February 10, 2019
Sources close to Campbell told LetsRun.com that Campbell has been sedated and likely will remain that way for a few days as his condition is monitored. An initial scan checking for damage to his brain found no serious issues.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to him. There is a thread on the forums on his condition here.
Shot putters pray for Campbell
Editor’s note: The article above appears as a note in one of our Millrose recap stories but deserves its own article. Update on 2/10/2018: This article has been edited to remove the name of the journalist who spoke to us as he wishes to remain anonymous.