Joseph Balko passed away on Saturday, May 21 at Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, one day after collapsing at the finish line of the 3200m at the Region VI Track and Field Championships in Fairbanks.
The freshman from Monroe Catholic High School finished the 3200m on Friday night in ninth place with a time of 13:10.84 before collapsing. According to the News Miner, race officials, volunteers, coaches, family members and spectators immediately gathered around the young runner. Several people administered CPR.
When paramedics arrived, they applied a breathing treatment, continued CPR and used a defibrillator. An ambulance transported Balko to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. Later on Friday night, a helicopter moved him to Providence Hospital in Anchorage.
Meet officials suspended the rest of the meet on Friday afternoon and resumed competition at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning.
Cause of death is unknown at this time.
Balko was also a boy scout. The Midnight Sun Council posted this message on their facebook page on Sunday:
Read the full article on the News Miner here.