Medical Examiner Rules Cleveland Marathon Runner's Death Accidental

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s office on Friday released the official cause of death for the 22-year-old woman who collapsed while running the Cleveland Marathon May 19.

Taylor Ceepo died from “sudden cardiac death in association with physical exertion, pseudoephedrine use, and cardiomyopathy,” according to the report. Her death was ruled an accident.

Cardiomyopathy is a disease that affects the heart, weakening its ability to pump blood in a regular rhythm. Pseudoephedrine is a common ingredient in over-the-counter cold and sinus medicines, such as Sudafed.

A Medina native, Ceepo was a graduate of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron and Walsh University in North Canton, playing midfield on the Walsh Cavaliers women’s soccer team.