An Olympic Trials race is expected to have highs and lows.

The highs, of course, are in the finishes of the top three athletes who earn the right to represent the United States in the Olympics.

The lows usually are reserved for those in sixth place, missing even the alternate positions of fourth and fifth.

And those who fail to finish the event might face giving up a lifelong dream.

The men's Olympic Marathon Trials in New York City Saturday suffered an unthinkable low. Ryan Shay, the 2001 NCAA 10,000 meters champion with a marathon personal best of 2 hours, 14 minutes, 8 seconds, walked off the Central Park course after 5Z\x miles, collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack.

While five to nine marathon participants die each year, the death of an elite athlete like Shay is practically unheard of. The Olympic Trials have never experienced a death in competition.

At age 14, Shay was diagnosed with an enlarged heart, a condition that isn't rare in trained athletes. The 27-year- old runner had experienced no adverse symptoms and had been cleared by doctors to compete in the marathon.

In a cruel twist, Shay's wife Alicia had been a Stanford University teammate of race winner Ryan Hall and his wife Sara. Both couples had run through Central Park on Friday and had planned to celebrate together at the finish line.

Hall learned of Shay's death shortly after he completed the Olympic Trials record-setting 2:09:01 race, coolly pulling away at 17 miles.

The quality field of American distance runners included Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi, Olympian Dan Browne and Abdi Abdiraham. Dathan Ritzenhein hung on to finish second in a time of 2:11:07.

Brian Sell, formerly of Altoona and St. Francis (Pa.) University, was more than 30 seconds behind the leaders through the halfway point. Sell held his steady pace, slowly gaining and passing all but the two leaders to finish in third in 2:11:40.

"The big key is pacing yourself," Sell told Track and Field Radio. "You have to know what you can handle and try to run that pace."

More than 20 of Sell's college friends, including an active duty serviceman from Alaska, were among the spectators at the trials marathon. Some of them sported Sell's distinctive Fu Manchu mustache and zigzagged back and forth across Central Park's five-loop course to cheer on their friend.

Butler's Kevin Doyle, one of the St. Francis teammates, said that Sell was definitely a fan favorite. Brooks Sports, the corporate sponsor of Sell's Hanson's Running team, had passed out posters and cheer cards for Sell and 12 other Hanson's runners competing in the race.

"There was an army of T-shirts for Brian," Doyle said. "Seeing him win was just awesome."

Sell, who had planned to retire from competitive running to pursue a career in dentistry, will now postpone his education to train for the 2008 Olympic Marathon in Bejing, China in August.

National news

Butler County college teams are going national.

Congratulations and good luck to Cory Steinhagen on his seventh-place finish at the junior college regionals in Hagerstown, Md. With that finish, Steinhagen's Butler County Community College team has qualified for the national meet, which will be held this weekend in Long Island, New York.

Slippery Rock University's cross country team has qualified for the NCAA National Championships. The team will journey to Missouri next weekend to compete with the best Division II teams in the nation.

Upcoming events

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Coffee and doughnut before or after the run. 724-898-2525 or www.runpa.com

Saturday, 9 a.m.: Pumpkin Chase 5K, Wilmerding. 412-823-9000 or skalinoski@ymcapgh.org

Saturday, 9:30 a.m.: Let's Get Dirty 5K XC Race, Slippery Rock University. Cross country run over logs, streams, through mud. 724-738-2798 or john.papa@sru.edu

Saturday, 10 a.m.: Pittsylvania XC Challenge, Pittsburgh. Run on Frick Park trails, separate races for ages 11 and under, 12-15, and 16+. 412-885-2537

Erika Hirschman 5K and 2- Mile Walk, Hermitage. Benefits Erika Hirschman Foundation. 724-981-0800, Ext. 3 or memckendry@roadrunner.com

Sunday, 8:30 a.m.: Operation Troop Appreciation Veterans Day 5K Race, Hampton Community Park. Benefits active troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. www.active.com

Sunday, 9 a.m.: Veterans Day 5K Allison Park. 412-486-6999

Sunday, 1 p.m.: Memorial 9.3 for Flight 93, Shanksville. Also 5K noncompetitive run or walk loops Flight 93 crash site, benefits Memorial Garden Fund and Shanksville Fire Department. 814-445-6213

Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.: Run through the Lights, Hartwood Acres. Run or walk 4 miles through Celebration of Lights. 412-963-6109

Nov. 24, 9 a.m.: Treesdale Turkey Trot 5K, Gibsonia. 724-625-2220 or www.treesdalegolf.com

Race results

Run with your Neighbors 5K, Sept. 16: Matt Wehrle, 1st Overall M, 18:51; Jonna Schper, 1st Overall W, 26:35; Ryan Sestak, 1st 16 and under M, 19:00; Ethan Smith, 2nd 16 and under M, 20:10; Charlie Casalnova, 1st 40 and over M, 20:33; Beau Fisher, 1st 17-19 M, 26:35; Ken Chuzie, 3rd 40 and over M, 27:10; Sarah Johns, 2nd 16 and under W, 28:11; Rebecca Consbruck, 2nd 16 and under W, 28:13; Maribeth McCarl, 1st 40 and over W, 40:59; Otha Montgomery, 2nd 40 and over W, 50:02; Laurie Degraaf, 50:03

Applefest 5K, Oct. 4: Kevin Park, 1st Overall M, 16:35; Leah Shouey, 1st Overall W, 17:56; Adam Leskanic, 3rd 30-34 M, 19:03; Andrew Kifer, 2nd 25-29 M, 19:28; Heather Leskanic, 1s 35-39 W, 22:01; Gary Bell, 1st 60-64 M, 22:58; Michael Poff, 2nd 60-64 M, 23:50; Jen Beachem, 3rd 20-24 W, 24:53; Merle Hughes, 2nd 70 and over M, 36:04; Margaret Kimper, 1st 70 and over W, 36:04Fred Weaver, 20:31; Havyn Skorupan, 22:45; Tiffany Witt, 23:01; Buddy Turner, 23:10; Emily Hertweck, 23:20; Ralph Bommer, 24:39; Patty Schmidt, 25:11; Dennis Acon, 25:48; Trey Maher, 25:50; Ian Babb, 25:57; Renee Decker, 26:26; William Dundore, 26:36; Donna Eshenbaugh, 27:04; Jessica Richards, 27:22; Jessica Adamczyk, 27:27; Melissa Mahood, 28:18; Jennifer Dundore, 28:36; Margy Somora, 28:45; Tedd Nesbit, 29:02; Jinny Hertweck, 29:24; Kelly Somora, 31:39; Thomas Somora, 31:39; Jodi Caldwell, 34:05; Melinda Collins, 38:32; Charlie Nesbit, 45:44; Dan Ferguson, 48:31

Run Shadyside 5K, Oct. 6: Lucas Marsak, 1st Overall M, 16:23; Genise Green, 1st Overall W, 20:10; Jerry Maher, 1st 40-44 M, 16:48; Paula Orie, 2nd 35-39 W, 23:49; James Bolze, 1st 12-15 M, 25:57; Kevin Smith, 26:38; Terry Melis, 30:04; Tina Fletcher, 30:05; Bob Vertullo, 47:48; Christina, Vertullo, 47:48; Josh Schmidt, 51:03

His Kids School 5K Run, Oct. 6: Steve Russell, 1st Overall M, 21:56; Michael Beamer, 2nd Overall M, 22:58; Jeromee Geibel, 3rd Overall M, 23:26; Patricia Neubert, 1st Overall W, 24:05; Chelsea Moser, 2nd Overall W, 24:24; Brittany Faust, 3rd Overall W, 29:02; Dez Csizmadia, 1st 60 and over M, 24:39; Harry Green, 2nd 60 and over M, 25:15; Joel Geibel, 1st 45-49 M, 28:42; Jyri Gray, 1st 10-13 M, 30:06; Suzie Geibel, 1st 40-44 W, 31:58; Sherry Lucchetti, 1st 30-34 W, 32:57; David McConahy, 3rd 60 and over M, 33:44Debra Kuminkoski, 2nd 40-44 W, 35:27; Luann Steighner, 3rd 45-49 W, 35:30; Katie Anderson, 2nd 30-34 W, 42:16; Amanda Taddy, 1st 20-24 W, 42:17; Daniel Hillard, 1st 30-34 M, 44:29; Kristen Hillard, 2nd 20-24 W, 44:32; Joyce McConahy, 1st 60 and over W, 44:55; Susie Woller, 3rd 30-34 W, 47:37; Jeff Woller, 2nd 30-34 M, 47:49; Jonathan Evans, 1st 50-54 M, 47:52; Kevin Corace, 2nd 40-44 M, 47:54; Tara Palotto, 3rd 20-24 W, 59:06; Vienna Moyer, 1st 9 and under W, 59:24; Jayme Keffalas, 2nd 9 & Under W, 59:50; Zach Corace, 1st 9 and under M, 59:50; Joanne Huff, 39:32; Joe Klimchak, 47:46; Chris Corace, 59:53Send comments and suggestions to: 435 Cherry Valley Road, Saxonburg, Pa. 16056. Phone or fax: 724-352-4395. E-mail: bigp16@connecttime.netPat Neubert is the running column for the Butler Eagle.