Wilmington College runners dies after race

To be clear the runners name was Jenna Parlette and Wilmington College is located in Ohio. This article explains her story in more detail.

http://www.whiotv.com/news/news/wilmington-student-hospitalized-following-race/nZkZB/

I was 30 feet from her when Jenna collapsed. At first it appeared she was unsure which way to go on the course. People around her yelled directions to her and for a second she ran toward the finish line. Then Jenna veered directly to the right even though the finish chute was right in front of her and she collapsed and starting seizing. She continued to seize until the ambulance got there. It was a scary scene to witness, but I had no idea at the time that it would lead to her death. It sounds like her health problems were pretty serious and she knew the risks of running. It was hot and humid that day and maybe that contributed to things. I can't imagine what her family, coach and team is going through right now.

That's too bad, and I understand it was her passion and she loved it (and was talented at it), but did her doctors support her running and racing with a pacemaker and her condition?

As a parent who has already lost one child, if it were my daughter, I wouldn't support/allow her to run/race.

My sympathies to her friends and family.

jack died wrote:

As a parent who has already lost one child, if it were my daughter, I wouldn't support/allow her to run/race.

Why people feel the need to write things like this, I will never know.

Dennis Reynolds wrote:

jack died wrote:

As a parent who has already lost one child, if it were my daughter, I wouldn't support/allow her to run/race.

Why people feel the need to write things like this, I will never know.

----------------------

"jack died" 's post seemed very relevant to me. Your post is the one that should be questioned.

Dennis Reynolds wrote:

jack died wrote:

As a parent who has already lost one child, if it were my daughter, I wouldn't support/allow her to run/race.

Why people feel the need to write things like this, I will never know.

*****************

as a parent who has lost a child.....

god forbid you should ever know why people like us need to write things like that.

It's a horrible tragedy, but any parent of a child over 18 can't make the statement "I wouldn't support/allow her to run/race" stick. You may not support it, but you can't say you wouldn't allow it. If she's over 18 and mentally competent, there is little or nothing you can do to stop it. Perhaps the parents of this young lady didn't want her to run, but could do nothing about it.... There are no silver linings here, but she did die doing something she loved and I can think of many worse ways to pass away. Peace be with her parents, family, and friends.

Dennis Reynolds wrote:

jack died wrote:

As a parent who has already lost one child, if it were my daughter, I wouldn't support/allow her to run/race.

Why people feel the need to write things like this, I will never know.

Because, Dennis, being judgmental pleases them more than just offering sympathy. Something bad happened, and they feel someone needs to be blamed.

career shoe guy wrote:

*****************

as a parent who has lost a child.....

god forbid you should ever know why people like us need to write things like that.

I'm sorry for your previous loss, but Jenna Strong was not your child and you are not in a place to judge right now.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Jenna Parlette. It appears that she made great use of the time that she had and made a strong impression on others. Hopefully her family and friends can take great comfort in that and use her as a model of behavior going forward.

However, this is a running message board. It is wholly appropriate to discuss the the fact that running can be a dangerous activity if you have certain pre existing medical conditions.

Discussing that aspect may encourage runners to pay better attention to their health and heed warnings signs.

I don't think that "jack died" is looking to "blame the victim". It seems more that he is looking to save another from suffering the same fate as Jenna Parlette. It is often best in cases like this to "strike while the iron is hot" and people are paying attention to this issue. Hopefully, that may lead at least one person to make a decision that may save their life or the life of another.

If you do not agree with that, feel free to not take part in that branch of the discussion. Feel free to express your condolences as you see fit.

This is something like horrifying-- it actually seems as though anyone who's posted dubious and critical messages really believe they're the first ones to think such thoughts as they've posted. The "if it was my child," argument is so narrow-sighted it's appalling-- as if the parents of this athlete never considered the ramifications. As for exposing the dangers of running and "heeding warning signs" -- is there any situation we can just let be human, without turning it into a platform for some "message?" I mean, honestly, "strike while the iron is hot" is the phrase you're choosing? And for what "issue" exactly, other than your own pontification?

This young woman held records at her college-- in multiple events I believe-- so this particular race was hardly her first, and hardly the "cause" of the tragedy.

Does her school require a physical or other examination and what is the criteria for denying an athlete participation if epilepsy and a pacemaker don't qualify?

As a trainer and athletic director I would not have wanted the liability. As a parent or the girl herself, though, I would have wanted her to run around and play just like everyone else, so the gray line between enjoying physical activities and running cross country would have been easily blurred.

cptjag wrote:

This young woman held records at her college-- in multiple events I believe-- so this particular race was hardly her first, and hardly the "cause" of the tragedy.

This athlete was encouraged by doctors and parents to compete. She held records in 5000m (17:xx), 10000m and I believe cross country. She was not just participating, she was a fierce competitor who will be greatly missed.

This girl must have been mentally tough as hell! To have the big scare she had in high school before her pacemaker was implanted, then another when the pacemaker wasn't set correctly. She still came back to keep running and racing and obviously kicked a lot of a## while doing it! It'd be pretty easy to "race" but not really push yourself very hard due to her condition. Just kind of run at 90% effort and back in the pack. Sounds like she really pushed herself, I've gotta say I admire that. Can't say I'd have done anything any differently considering I love racing so much as well.

THE time you won your town the race

We chaired you through the market-place;

Man and boy stood cheering by,

And home we brought you shoulder-high.

To-day, the road all runners come, 5

Shoulder-high we bring you home,

And set you at your threshold down,

Townsman of a stiller town.

Smart lad, to slip betimes away

From fields where glory does not stay, 10

And early though the laurel grows

It withers quicker than the rose.

Eyes the shady night has shut

Cannot see the record cut,

And silence sounds no worse than cheers 15

After earth has stopped the ears:

Now you will not swell the rout

Of lads that wore their honours out,

Runners whom renown outran

And the name died before the man. 20

So set, before its echoes fade,

The fleet foot on the sill of shade,

And hold to the low lintel up

The still-defended challenge-cup.

And round that early-laurelled head 25

Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,

And find unwithered on its curls

The garland briefer than a girl's.

The coach noted how Parlette’s mother, Lisa Parlette, told him and those team members that traveled to Indianapolis Tuesday during her daughter’s final hours that she had “no regrets” about her running at such a high level, in spite of being epileptic and having a pacemaker that corrected an irregular heartbeat.

“Jenna was doing what she wanted to do — run,” Lisa Parlette told the team. We couldn’t stop her even if we wanted to.”

She had to have been cleared to run by a doctor. No school in the world would let a student run if they had a medical condition that would endanger their life. The only question is whether doctors need to be more protective and proactive when dealing with athletes who have heart conditions. Distance running does carry risks, but there is no reason to be putting young people in harms way just because they are passionate about the sport.

To all of you posting negative thoughts and opinions, KEEP THEM TO YOURSELF.

Did you ever think maybe Jenna's family might read them?!

I am Jenna's friend and teammate. Jenna WAS cleared to run and ENCOURAGED by everyone to do so. Her mother is VERY protective of Jenna and is WONDERFUL BEYOND MEASURES!

NO ONE could have predicted Jenna's incident! An underlying medical cause that would have NEVER been found to begin with and SHE HAS LIVED her life FULLY both running and outside of running! Her life would not have been the same and she was the most talented and persistent runner in Ohio anyone had ever seen. She holds 3 school records and is the fastest female runner in Wilmington College history.

Now tell me you would have stopped her.

If you don't have anything positive to say, keep it to yourself.