Officials identified the man as Andres Aguilar; the medical examiner is reviewing the cause of death.
CARLSBAD, Calif. — A 25-year-old runner died Sunday after collapsing just short of the Carlsbad Half Marathon finish line, city officials said. The man, identified by family as Andres Aguilar of San Diego, was taken by ambulance to Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside, where he was pronounced dead.
Aguilar’s death came during the popular coastal race that draws thousands each January and sends runners along a loop that starts and ends near The Shoppes at Carlsbad. City officials said nine people were transported to hospitals during the event, eight of them within about 45 minutes around 10 a.m. The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office has opened a case and said Aguilar experienced a witnessed cardiac arrest. An autopsy and additional testing will determine the official cause and manner of death.
Aguilar collapsed near the finish area off Marron Road late in the morning, according to officials and relatives. Medics stationed along the course began resuscitation efforts immediately while additional crews converged at the chute. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of a runner who suffered a medical emergency near the finish line of the Carlsbad Half Marathon,” Meg Treat, speaking on behalf of race organizer In Motion Events, said in a statement. Organizers said medical staffing was positioned at the finish and along the route as part of a plan coordinated with local first responders. Aguilar was transported to Tri-City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The city detailed a race-day medical plan that included four ambulances placed along the course, two first-aid stations and roughly two dozen roaming CPR-certified race guards. At the finish line, organizers said the team included an emergency room nurse, an EMT supervisor/paramedic, an EMT supervisor and 11 EMTs, among others. Officials said the nine transports did not include runners treated at on-site tents for non-emergent issues. Aguilar’s family said he had trained for the event and kept his pace through the first 10 miles based on his live race tracker before collapsing near the end. He had moved to San Diego two years ago for work and often spent time outdoors, relatives said.
According to the Medical Examiner’s case log, Aguilar was pronounced dead late Sunday morning; the agency listed the death as following a witnessed cardiac arrest while the cause remains pending. Time-of-death records showed the pronouncement came before noon, and investigators noted Tri-City Medical Center as the place of death. The office will determine cause and manner after completing an autopsy and any needed lab studies. Officials have not released additional medical findings, and no foul play is suspected. Authorities said the investigation would examine medical history, scene circumstances and available recordings or device data, standard steps in such cases.
The Carlsbad event, produced by In Motion Events, is among San Diego County’s longest-running road races and typically fields several thousand half-marathon participants. The course starts and finishes near a regional shopping center and follows the coastline on Carlsbad Boulevard before returning inland toward the mall complex. The city issues road-closure notices ahead of race day and deploys police, fire and contracted medical resources throughout the morning. Sunday’s race also saw multiple heat- and exertion-related calls around midmorning, officials said, prompting a cluster of transports within a short window. Weather conditions were seasonal along the coast, and officials did not cite environmental hazards as a primary factor pending the medical review.
Race organizers said they were coordinating with the city on post-event reviews, which are routine after large gatherings that involve street closures and medical staging. No criminal investigation is underway. The Medical Examiner will release a full report when testing is complete, a process that can take several weeks. If additional findings emerge, the city said it will update the public. In Motion Events said it would also evaluate race-day operations and staffing as part of its standard after-action assessment. Funeral arrangements for Aguilar had not been announced.
Aguilar’s employer, Charles Schwab, said he worked as an investment consultant at the company’s Carlsbad branch and was a valued colleague. The firm offered condolences to his family and coworkers. Relatives described Aguilar as the middle of three brothers who enjoyed running, hiking and being near the water. “We wish peace for anyone impacted,” Treat said in the organizers’ statement, which thanked medical teams and first responders for their swift work at the finish. Family members said the support from friends and coworkers since Sunday has been steady as they plan memorials in San Diego County and in San Antonio, where Aguilar grew up.
As of Monday, the Medical Examiner’s ruling on cause and manner remained pending, and officials said no further updates were expected until the autopsy process concludes. Race organizers said they would share any operational changes after their routine review. City officials said they would release additional information if the medical findings point to broader public-safety concerns. The next public milestone is the Medical Examiner’s report, expected in the coming weeks.
Author note: Last updated January 26, 2026.