'Star athlete' collapses and dies just three miles from the end of marathon
A young man who was cleared by medics to run collapsed and died just before he could finish a marathon.
Sam Norton, a 26-year-old runner from Massachusetts, collapsed and died during the Santa Rosa Marathon in California, just before reaching the 23rd out of 26 miles. Despite medical personnel's efforts, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The cause of death was not disclosed, but he had a rare condition diagnosed earlier in the year. Despite collapsing during a previous marathon due to Rhabdomyolysis, he was cleared to run again and continued his passion for the sport.
He was a devoted family man with two sisters, Lucy and Maggie, and a deep connection to his faith. His mother, Kristen Caisse, described him as a blessing to all who knew him.
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Ms Caisse said: "He was doing something that he loved. He loves to challenge himself. He just was such a blessing to all who knew him."
Sam had a strong interest in athletics throughout his life, excelling in football and rugby during high school and college. He was known for his leadership and community-building abilities, drawing people together through his energetic presence. His career began in finance, working at Goldman Sachs and Gamut Capital Management.
Victor Zeitoune, Norton’s running coach, said that Sam had a knack for drawing in members and building community. He noted: "Some people just come to a space and others come and bring an energy that people gravitate to. People gravitated to Sam."
On a GoFundMe page, his friend Sam Rogers of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, remembered Norton as loving and determined. Her wrote: "Sam always made the impossible seem possible. He was a three-year varsity football player at Saint John’s High School in Shrewsbury and was a strong leader even before he was named a team captain.
"Aside from his accomplishments on the field, Sam was a terrific and dedicated student – so much so that he locked himself in his bedroom on a Saturday to study for a final exam freshman year. Everyone looked up to Sam; being around Sam made us stand a little taller and work a little harder. He was a hero to so many – a friend and family member who stayed in touch. Checked in. Cared. Inspired us all."
Norton was participating in the marathon to qualify for the 2024 Boston Marathon, a race he had already planned to run. He was running for the Herren Project, a nonprofit supporting substance use disorder treatment and prevention, raising over $16,000 for them.
The Herren Project wrote in a post on Facebook Tuesday: "It is with heavy hearts to announce yesterday we lost a Team Herren Project Teammate. Sam was a star on our 2023 Boston Marathon team earlier this year, and we were so grateful that he was also a member of our upcoming 2023 NYC Marathon team.
"Sam Norton was more than an athlete; he was a community builder. Known for his magnetic energy and ability to bring people together, he was a cherished presence among fellow runners. We are so grateful to have known him."
Norton's motivation for running stemmed from his father's struggle with addiction, who was also a runner. Running provided him solace and a connection to his late father.
In an essay he had written to appeal to donors, he said: "There’s a unique and distinct clarity that comes when you’re miles out, just you and the road, when you settle in and feel like you could go on just like this, forever.
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"I like to think that it was moments like these that brought him some peace and relief from the anguish that was all too present for him. It’s the closest I’ve felt to him in years, even when he was alive."
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