Three die competing in Detroit marathon

Detroit, Michigan - A half-marathoner and two other runners have died during the Detroit marathon

Daniel Langdon, 36, of Laingsburg, collapsed at about 9.02am between 17 and 19km markers, said Rich Harshbarger, vice president of consumer marketing for the Detroit Media Partnership.

Rick Brown, 65, of Marietta, Ohio, collapsed at 9.17am near where Langdon went down and 26-year-old Jon Fenlon of Waterford collapsed at about 9.18am, just after finishing the half-marathon in 1hr53min37, Harshbarger said.

It was unclear whether Brown and Langdon were participating in the 21km half marathon or the full race.

Harshbarger said there were at least six medical stations on the race course and that emergency personnel were on the scene within seconds.

Every runner had to sign a medical release form and they were encouraged to talk to their doctors before they ran the race, Harshbarger said.

"On a day when so many people bring such energy and challenge themselves to do their utmost, this news is very difficult to hear," said Free Press editor and publisher Paul Anger. "Our deepest sympathies are with the families."

The temperature was about -2 degrees when the marathon started and had risen to 5 degrees by 10am. Running coach Keith Hanson said he doubted that the weather had anything to do with the deaths.

"The wind never kicked up," Hanson said. "In my mind, the conditions were perfect."

Deaths at marathons are relatively rare. The last death at the Detroit race was in 1994 when a 42-year-old man died of a heart attack after running more than 32km.

More than 19 000 people were registered to participate in the 32nd Detroit Marathon on Sunday.

Nicholas Stanko, of Haslett, Michigan, took first place in the marathon with a time of 2hr20min24.

Sarah Plaxton, of Highland, Michigan, was the top female finisher in the marathon with a time of 2hr57min09. - AP