High School Senior, 18, Dies After Collapsing at Finish Line of Half Marathon: 'A Devastation for Everyone'

10/08/2024 04:48 PM

Rudy "Junior" Zevallos' family is remembering the 18 year old as "a remarkable friend, student, brother, and son"

A Missouri family is mourning the death of a high school senior who "tragically and very unexpectedly" died after crossing the finish line of a half marathon over the weekend.

Rudy "Junior" Zevallos was rushed to the hospital after he collapsed at the finish line on Saturday and was pronounced dead, according to The Kansas City Star. 

Zevallos was 18, according to his family, who launched a GoFundMe fundraiser over the weekend to help the family with funeral costs.

"Junior was a remarkable friend, student, brother, and son," the family wrote in its memorial. "He was driven by a competitive spirit and a relentless determination to not just complete, but master any and all challenges. Immersing himself in the study of the Bible, mastering the knowledge of investing, and devouring self-improvement books. He was always striving to become the absolute best version of himself."

The Zevallos family said it was "impossible to summarize" how much the 18-year-old "meant to so many people."

"Junior was loved by so many and his loss is a devastation for everyone," the family said.

The Zevallos family said their son's "exact cause of his death is unclear at this time, but we do know his body temperature reached a fatal level and his heart stopped."

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Zevallos was a senior at Lebanon High School, which said in a Facebook post this week it was mourning the student's loss "together." "This is a very difficult time for our school community, and we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends affected by ths tragic loss," the Lebanon School District said.

The high school senior's family said Zevallos played football, ran track and wrestled at his school, and that he recently enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps to follow "his father's footsteps."

"I would like to make a final note that I know Junior would want everyone to know," his family wrote in his GoFundMe. "His goal was to complete the [half] marathon in under two hours. He completed at an hour and fifty-eight minutes."

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