What should have been a celebration...

America's marathon team for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (from left): Brian Sell (3rd), Ryan Hall (1st), and Dathan Ritzenhein (2nd). /photo by Paul Merca

...turned to tragedy as Ryan Shay passed away during Saturday's running of the US Olympic Team Trials-Men's Marathon in New York.

Most of the major media and sports outlets online have full details on Shay's death, so I won't repeat what is known.

I just arrived in Seattle a short while ago from the Trials in New York, and am under a tight deadline for Northwest Runner magazine. Therefore, I will hold my thoughts and observations until Sunday.