CHESHIRE - An aspiring runner who passed college agility tests with flying colors died Sunday afternoon, shortly after collapsing more than halfway through a marathon just outside Washington D.C.
Lisa Beth Christensen, 19, of 249 Maple Ave., was running between the 19- and 20-mile markers on the marathon course in Arlington, Va., when she collapsed and fell back, hitting her head on the pavement, according to authorities. The accident occurred at 1:15 p.m.
Christensen was taken by ambulance to Arlington Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 2:45 p.m. An autopsy revealed the cause of death as trauma.
"Bystanders saw her collapse and a message was relayed through ham radio operators stationed throughout the race," said Col. Robert McLean of the U.S. Marine Corps office in Virginia. "One of 20 ambulances along portions of the course responded and treated her at the scene" before moving her.
A sophomore attending Boston University, Christensen had earned a scholarship through the Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps.
She was one of 15 ROTC classmates to run in the annual U.S. Marine Corps Marathon Sunday. The course spanned about 26 miles.
Christensen was enrolled in the university's College of Liberal Arts, according to university spokeswoman Jennifer Brad. She was a 1989 graduate of Cheshire High School.
She is the daughter of Hans and Corrine Christensen of Cheshire.
During semiannual physicals by the ROTC, Christensen "scored well into the outstanding category," said Capt. Michael Field, commander of Naval ROTC at Boston University, an adviser to ROTC students. Christensen was a midshipman third class with the ROTC.
Field heard of Christensen's death Sunday afternoon at his Massachusetts home.
"I was shocked. I'm a parent of an 18-year-old daughter and I couldn't imagine anything like that happening to her," said Field from his Boston office on Monday.
He said Christensen was active in several track-and-field intramurals sponsored by ROTC.
"The ROTC takes pride in students' fitness, and Lisa was always a regular participant in those workouts," Field said.
He described her as a fun-loving person, full of exuberance and always eager to help others in need.
"She was a very nice gal. Lisa had a bright reassuring look in her eye. She volunteered for many things," Field said. "She could always be counted on."
An occasional batch of cookies she would bake for fellow students served as a trademark of her goodwill, he added.
Field said he wants to attend her funeral Thursday.
services are set for 11 a.m. at the Lutheran Church of Cheshire, 660 West Main St. Boston University will also hold a memorial ceremony in Christensen's name on campus next week, Brad said.
High school teacher Laurie H. Vicario, who taught Christensen in her senior year, called her death a "tragic loss."
"She was one of the brightest girls I had in an art program. Not only was she intelligent, but she was extremely artistic," Vicario said Monday night. "She was a really sweet and considerate type of kid. Not at all selfish. Very giving."
"She will be a student I'll always remember," added Vicario.
At the Cheshire Veterinary Hospital on South Main Street, former co-workers admired her dedication to her job and to others. She had worked as a kennel attendant since high school.
"I was just thinking of her today, wondering when she was going to return. It's been quite a shock," said Dr. Thomas Chin, veterinarian. "We're all pretty devastated by the news."
Christensen had continued to work at the hospital during summers home from college.
She was one of 13,000 runners in Sunday's marathon, making it the third largest marathon in the country. This year marked the 15th year the U.S. Marines have sponsored the race, which started and finished at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington.

Excerpted from the Record-Journal (Meriden, Conn.) of November 6, 1990.