Cross country runner collapses, dies in North Carolina

Samantha Davis, 17, a senior at Union Pines High School in Cameron, N.C., suffered an apparent seizure Saturday morning while competing in a cross country event, reports say. (gofundme.com)

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- A 17-year-old girl died at a hospital early Sunday morning after collapsing during a cross country meet hours earlier, according to reports.

Samantha Davis, 17, a senior at Union Pines High School in Cameron, N.C., suffered an apparent seizure Saturday morning at about the 4K mark while running in the Hare and Hounds Invitational, The Pilot reports.

Davis was taken to Novant Presbyterian Medical Center while in cardiac arrest but died shortly after midnight on Sunday.

The death of Davis has hit the community hard, reports say. The senior was a member of the cross country and track teams, and she participated in marching band, Runners World reports.

"Sam made us all want to be better," Union Pines band director Robert Hill tells Runners World. "She never complained about anything and always had a huge smile on her face."

gofundme.com page set up for Davis' family had raised more than $18,000 as of early Tuesday morning.

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