TX High School Cross-Country Runner Collapses After Finishing Race, Dies Short Time Later

A Fort Worth, Texas teenager tragically collapsed and later died after posting his personal best time during a 5K race earlier this month. 

Angel Rey Hernandez, 16, a sophomore at Chisholm Trail High School had just completed his cross-country race as he and his team competed in a district track meet on Oct. 13, according to KHOU-TV. 

Witnesses told the outlet Hernandez first collapsed right after he crossed the finish line. Then, some of the teen’s friends helped him go to a water station where he collapsed again. 

He was immediately taken to the Medical City Alliance hospital in Fort Worth where he passed away, KHOU reported. 

Brent Brevard, the retired Chisholm Trail High School track coach who supervised Hernandez on last year’s team told the outlet he was deeply saddened upon hearing of the young man’s death. 

“He was the kind of student-athlete you wanted,” Brevard said. “He worked hard and cared about his teammates. But then he also acted right in school and took care of his grades.” 

Hernandez’s funeral was held on Oct. 20. During the service, his family was presented with the teen’s varsity letter jacket, according to KHOU. 

“A lot of people attended {the funeral}, a lot of his teammates made it, and they encouraged everyone to wear {the school color} purple,” Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD athletic director Brent Barker told the outlet. 

A moment of silence was also observed in Hernandez’s honor at the high school’s homecoming game later that night. 

The young man also studied martial arts at the Texas School of Karate.  After Hernandez’s death was announced, the school closed its doors for a week.  In a Facebook post, the karate school asked its students to keep the Hernandez family in their prayers. 

“Every one of us cried, every one of us has comforted each other,” Hernandez’s karate coach, Ashley Wood told KHOU. “It’s really hard. We’ll never get over it. We’ll never forget him. He’s going to be missed here, but he’s going to be loved always.”

The school also proclaimed Oct. 21 at its facility “In Honor of Angel Hernandez Day”, recognizing the young champion as a “leader and inspiration to all.” 

“His remarkable talents and positive influence on his peers, family, and community members will forever remain in our hearts and memories,” the proclamation posted to the school’s Facebook page said. 

Wood set up a GoFundMe page to help the Hernandez family with Angel’s funeral expenses. She said she’s thankful to everyone who donated. As of Monday, the page had more than doubled its $7,500 goal with $15,702 in donations. 

Hernandez’s cause of death is still being investigated by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner, KHOU reported. 

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