Half-marathon runner who died was 'a model person'

VIRGINIA BEACH

Erik Wellumson played football for years and was in good shape to run the Rock 'n ' Roll Half Marathon on Sunday, said Jeff Beard, who coached him at Chesapeake's Hickory High School.

The medical examiner's office is still investigating why the 23-year-old collapsed on the Boardwalk during the 13.1-mile race and later died Sunday. Police released his identity Tuesday.

"It's a tragedy for a kid of his age to pass away," Beard said. "He was an outstanding young man."

Beard said he kept in touch with Wellumson and last spoke with him a few months ago.

The Police Department's Homicide Squad is investigating, according to a news release.

Wellumson collapsed on the Boardwalk near 8th Street shortly before 9 a.m. Paramedics tried to revive him before taking him to a hospital, where he died, the release said.

His family declined to comment.

Wellumson was a quarterback for Hickory before graduating in 2004. As a senior, he was instrumental in leading the Hawks to their first winning seasons in years, Beard said.

"Eric was a very shy kid, but a very positive kid," Beard said. "He had a lot of confidence in his athletic ability, and because of his performance, he was an inspirational leader."

After graduating, he signed on to play for Christopher Newport University. After a season as the team's backup quarterback, he left the team to focus on academics, Beard said.

In February 2005, Wellumson lost his father during a plane crash in Afghanistan. His father was working for a defense contractor there when the Boeing 737 he was traveling in went down during a snowstorm, killing all 104 passengers.

Wellumson graduated from CNU in May and remained close with some of his old Hickory teammates, Beard said. He was smart, motivated and talented, he said.

"They just don't make them better than him - a model athlete, a model student, a model person," Beard said. "He was just a tremendous kid."

Kathy Adams, (757) 222-5155, kathy.adams@pilotonline.com