3 Men Die During 32nd Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon

Police confirm that three men died this morning during the 32nd Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon.

Vice president of consumer marketing for the Detroit Media Partnership, Rich Harshbarger says Daniel Langdon, 36, of Laingsburg, was the first man to collapse at about 9:02 a.m., on Michigan Avenue, between the 11- and 12-mile markers.

Rick Brown, 65, of Marietta, Ohio, collapsed at 9:17 a.m., near the same spot Langdon went down and Jon Fenlon, 26, of Waterford collapsed at about 9:18 a.m., just after finishing the half-marathon in 1:53:37.

The three fatalities are the first in the race since 1994, where Samuel Grafton, 42, of Troy,  a veteran runner who just three months earlier completed the San Francisco Marathon, dropped of a heart attack at the 22-mile mark.

Free Press editor and publisher Paul Anger says:

“On a day when so many people bring such energy and challenge themselves to do their utmost, this news is very difficult to hear.  Our deepest sympathies are with the families.”

Harshbarger said there were at least six medical stations throughout the course and emergency personnel were on the scene within seconds.

More than 19,000 participated in today’s event in Detroit.

Our hearts are with the families and friends of the three men…