Rest in Peace: Manager Zane Branson Dies Suddenly in Iten Kenya

This is terrible. I have known Zane for years and see him in Eastern Europe occasionally. He was happy with a new Serbian wife and business was good. So sad to hear.

Zane was a good man.

How old was he?

old person wrote:

How old was he?

And what years did he run at ETSU.

This is definitely a situation for RIP.

I'm guessing Zane was around 58.

Without question, Zane was one of my favorite managers to work with as both an event organizer and a journalist. He was very effective, and represented his clients admirably. But he had a relaxed style and was easy to work with.

I met Zane for the first time in Honolulu in 2002. He put athletes in that event for over 20 years, and really contributed to making that race better. He also worked very closely with RunCzech, the organizers of the Prague Marathon and other high quality events in the Czech Republic.

Jon Cross, who managed the elite athletes for the Honolulu Marathon, messaged me to say that Zane was assisting his athletes with a long run when he died, handing out water. It is not clear what he was doing the moment he was stricken.

I'll always remember Zane fondly. He cut his own path in life and died doing what he loved most, helping his athletes.

Thank you David.

The sport has lost a good person few of us knew. Your words are so kind and helpful.

How did my name end up as "How's" Tavern? Stupid auto correct.....

Official Statement on Zane Branson's Death from IAC:

Dear Friends,

With sense of shock and disbelief we are reaching out to inform you that our Zane Branson has passed away earlier today in Iten, Kenya.

Zane enjoyed this Saturday morning, has decided to walk to a meeting point for 40km Long Run he was to observe and on his way he brainstormed, joked, planned and greeted athletes running by.

Zane has passed away suddenly, doing what he loved and in these short and final moments of his rich life Zane was not alone.

Zane is to be laid to rest in his bellowed Kenya and we shall communicate more information related to place, date and time in days to come.

Today’s tragic event casts a shadow on overly successful trip during which International Athletics Consultancy has implemented major developments to adidas Marathon Athlete Development Program and adidas RunCzech Racing Program and we are to continue to work tirelessly for the benefit of clients, events clients are competing in and running media – celebrating Zane’s passion and commitment to the good our sport is made of.

Rest In Peace Zane Branson, you will be missed.

Edward Yego, Evgeniia Zghir, Nikola Stanic, Julien Di Maria and Davor Savija

Thanks for posting this, David.

I think Zane Branson was probably mid 50s - possibly 55 or 56?

I remember watching him run for ETSU and seeing him at some of the local road races in Johnson City. He was All Conference in cross country in the Southern Conference in 1978 and again in 1980 (during the time when ETSU was in the midst of winning 8 straight conference titles). I was surprised to see him with short hair in a recent photo - I hadn't seen him since the early 80s, when his hair was down to his shoulders.

I can still picture him in ETSU's mini-dome, running intervals with Ray Flynn on that 6 laps-to-a-mile track, and hearing an Irish team-mate from the sidelines call out encouragement, "Come on Zane!" (pronouncing his name as if it were spelled with an "s" - "Sane").

I am sorry to read of his death. He died in the saddle, doing what he loved doing, and with a good reputation among others who loved the sport. Which is to say, he died with honor.

My condolences to his family. May he R.I.P.