CLEVELAND — On Friday, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office released the cause of death for Taylor Ceepo, a 22-year-old woman who collapsed and died during the Cleveland Marathon on May 19.
The medical examiner said the cause of death was sudden cardiac arrest in association with physical exertion, pseudoephedrine use and cardiomyopathy. The manner of her death was ruled an accident, according to a release the medical examiner’s office.
Ceepo, a Medina resident who was a star soccer player and recent graduate of Walsh University, was running the Cleveland Marathon when she collapsed. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Ceepo was a biology major at Walsh University where she played midfield on the Walsh Cavaliers women’s soccer team.
Ceepo earned three letters while playing at Walsh. Before attending college, Ceepo played soccer at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron where she was ranked fourth in the state. She also played soccer for International ECNL where she won four State Cup Championships, a Regional Championship and finished in fourth place at Nationals.
On the day of the race, temperatures were in the 70s. Hospital officials said they treated 60 to 70 racers along the course for such things as heat illnesses, dehydration, muscle strain and orthopedic injuries.
The Cleveland Marathon said it would also be donating to the Children’s Miracle Network in Ceepo's memory on behalf of the marathon community for her work with the Walsh University Dance Team that supported Akron Children's Hospital.
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