An Ogden High senior suffered a seizure two miles into a three-mile cross country race near Tremonton Wednesday, and later died.
Kalena Wright, 18, who has had a history of seizures most of her life, was participating in a Region 11 tri-meet with Morgan and Bear River at Camperworld Hot Springs Golf Course in Fielding when the seizure occurred.
"She walked up a hill, and I could tell that she wasn't feeling well," Ogden cross country coach Don Hall said. "I said, 'you're done for the day.' She walked over to the shade of a tree and sat down."
Hall said a seizure began and continued longer than the normal minute or two. At the time, her father, Deric Wright, activated a device in her chest to increase her seizure medication, but it didn't take effect.
After several minutes, Deric Wright and Ogden assistant cross country coach Christine Heslop administered rescue breathing and transported her to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Wright is the second high school athlete to die in less than a week. Copper Hills baseball player Ryan Nielsen died Friday after being struck in the neck by a line drive.
"She was a real team player," Hall said. "She was one of our top three runners and a valuable team member. Everybody liked her. She was an inspiration to the team because everybody knew about her medical condition."
Hall said Wright had surgery last year to implant a device in her chest to control her medication. Also, her father and mother, Karen Wright, attended a team practice Monday and briefed the team about seizures.
"She loved running and her parents were supportive of her running and attended all her meets," Hall said.
Hall said Kalena Wright visited the doctor Tuesday and had her medication regulated and was cleared to run.
"She was a champion of a girl," Hall said.
Hall said counselors will be on campus today to help team members and friends deal with Wright's death.
"Obviously this is a tragedy and something went terribly wrong," Hall said. "She's used to having seizures and usually there's not a lasting effect from it."
E-mail: jhinton@desnews.com