Street Talk - "Live in L.A."
Heart attack killed teen runner at meet
By Ty Tagami and Jen Sansbury (AJC)
Aug 29, 2002, 09:56 EST

The DeKalb County high school student who collapsed and died after a 3-mile run had a heart attack, the county medical examiner's office said Wednesday.

Shai Lauren Owens, a 16-year-old junior at Cedar Grove High, died Tuesday

Shai Lauren Owens - Cedar Grove HS

night of complications from a heart defect, said forensic investigator Greg Greene. He said Shai, running in her first school meet of the season, had an abnormal heart valve and an abnormal vessel that supplies blood to the heart.

Shai, in her second year on the team, passed her mandatory annual doctor's examination recently, said Sheryl Croft, Cedar Grove principal.

Tears streamed down Croft's cheeks as she spoke on the phone Wednesday morning with Nicolette Owens, Shai's mother.

"Mrs. Owens, I've already asked that the administrators clean out her locker for you," Croft said softly, her eyes turned skyward. "I will bring it to you. You don't even have to come up here.

"The students are just devastated. They loved her," Croft told Shai's mother, who declined interviews Wednesday.

Dozens of students and staff met with counselors Wednesday.

"Some of the teachers are in there now -- not because they're supporting students but because they are grieving," Croft said.

Superintendent Johnny Brown also visited the school to speak to students and staff.

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