21-year-old Kittanning woman dies after collapsing at Erie half marathon
A Kittanning woman and Thiel College athlete died after collapsing during a half marathon and being rushed to a hospital Sunday morning, July 20, in Erie.
Toby Atwood, 21, collapsed during the Erie Runners Club’s Presque Isle Half Marathon at Presque Isle State Park on Lake Erie. The Erie County Coroner’s Office said Atwood was rushed to the hospital and died there.
Atwood was entering her senior year with a 4.0 GPA. She studied business administration and accounting and was to graduate in 2026. She had earned a full scholarship and won the Thiel College Presidential Scholarship, among others.
“Her presence touched the lives of so many, and she will be deeply missed,” said Michael McKinney, Vice President for Student Life and Athletics at Thiel College. “During this heartbreaking time, we mourn for Toby and extend our heartfelt sympathy to her family, friends, classmates, teammates, coach, instructors and all who knew her.”
Atwood was also the cocaptain of the woman’s tennis team at Thiel College. She was named an Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete in 2024 and will be named again in 2025, according to Thiel College Athletics.
She was also named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team in 2024 and served as president of both the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Thiel College’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Atwood was also active in several campus organizations. She was the president of the Zeta Beta chapter of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority at Thiel College and previously held other sorority positions. She also served as president of the Student Athlete Committee, the national honor society Lambda Sigma, treasurer of the Order of Omega and a member of the Thiel Team, according to the sorority’s international office.
She was also a member of Alpha Chi National College Honor Society and Chi Eta Sigma, an honor society for commerce.
Atwood is survived by her mother, Brandi, her father and two older brothers, according to a GoFundMe started in her honor. The fundraiser has raised more than $18,000 as of noon July 23.
“Toby was one of those rare souls whose presence alone could light up an entire room,” according to the GoFundMe organized by Grace Jones, of Greenville. “Always glowing with joy and positivity, she radiated warmth and happiness to everyone she encountered. Her ever-present smile and genuine enthusiasm for life made her impossible not to love.”
Funeral arrangements are yet to be finalized.
