Jessica Renee Dillon

Description

was called home by her Heavenly Father on May 4, 2014. Born in Denver, Colorado on July 21, 1993 to Douglas and Christine Dillon, Jessica was a 2012 graduate of Rock Canyon High School and a student at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Left to cherish Jessica's memory are her parents Douglas and Christine, sister Rebecca and brother Jacob, grandparents Harvey and Charlotte Lombness; aunts and uncles Larry and Sherryl, Catherine, Terri and Jeff, Jeanette, Margie and Jeff; as well as numerous cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her grandparents Harry and Omadeen Dillon, and aunt Carolyn. Jessica will forevermore remain in the loving presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. A celebration of Jessica's life will be held on Saturday, May 10 at 11 a.m. at Southeast Christian Church, 9650 Jordan Road, Parker, CO, 80134. Jessica's family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made in her name to Southeast Community Outreach (SECOR) c/o Southeast Christian Church in Parker. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/denverpost/obituary.aspx?pid=170948476#sthash.cg3lxA9a.dpuf

The 20-year-old runner who collapsed near the finish line of Sunday's Boulder Spring Half Marathon at the Boulder Reservoir died later that day, the Boulder County Coroner's Office announced Monday.

Jessica Dillon, of Castle Rock, died Sunday at Boulder Community Health, according to the coroner's office.

Police on Sunday only had said she was hospitalized in critical condition following the race, which took place as springtime temperatures spiked into the upper 70s and low 80s. Other runners still navigating the course recounted seeing medics perform CPR on Dillon.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of Dillon's death.

"The Boulder Marathon family is devastated at the tragic loss of Jessica," race director Jeff Mason said Monday afternoon. "Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this difficult time."

Dillon was listed as a health and exercise science major on Colorado State University's student directory. Mason said he did not know whether Sunday marked Dillon's first time running the race.

Mason said there was medical personnel at the race who responded, but he he has not heard from them or anyone else as to what might have led to Dillon's death — and that any theory at this point would be only "speculation."

"We had numerous trained professionals at the Boulder Reservoir and in close proximity to where the accident happened," Mason said.

Lilly Johnson, the owner of Fleet Feet Sports in Boulder, said she was at the race when Dillon collapsed.

She said sometimes people who run half marathons haven't trained as much as those who run full marathons, but she noted she did not know Dillon, so she did not know whether that was the case here.

"Was she prepared to run a half marathon?" Johnson said. "But we need to be very sure before we make any statements about the case."

Johnson said the conditions could have played a factor, with temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s on Sunday.

"No doubt, it was hot," she said.

Mason said the Boulder Marathon has never had a death in any of its races before, but Boulder has seen its share of race deaths at other events in the past.

In 2005, Howard Garcia, 76, died in the Boulder Reservoir during the Boulder Peak Triathlon, and, in 2007, 65-year-old Ross "Jack" J. Lowe went into cardiac arrest and died during the Bolder Boulder.

In 2010, a 13-year-old boy had to be resuscitated after his heart stopped at the finish line of the Bolder Boulder. He lived.

Outside of Boulder, two people have died this year after half marathons in Virginia and the United Kingdom, while a third person had to be resuscitated after a half marathon in New York.