09/14/2026
Remembering Ryan
Today, we remember the life of Cookeville High School runner Ryan Burnett. On September 14, 1995, Ryan and his teammates were at practice when he suddenly collapsed. Despite everyone's best efforts, Ryan did not survive.
He passed away from an undiagnosed heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or HCM.
HCM is often a "silent" condition. Many young athletes felt completely healthy, possessed elite physical conditioning, and performed at peak levels without experiencing chest pain or shortness of breath. Tragically, the very first symptom for some athletes was sudden cardiac arrest during intense exertion.
Some famous athletes who died from this HCM were: Hank Gathers, a star basketball player at Loyola Marymount University who collapsed live on TV in 1990 and Reggie Lewis of the Boston Celtics who collapsed during practice in 1993.
Sign up for this special race, honoring the legacy of CHS cross country runner Ryan Burnett. https://runsignup.com/Race/TN/Cookeville/RyanBurnettMemorial5K
The 5K will take place on the course named in his honor at the Putnam County Sports Complex, through Cookeville High School, and then back out on the Cookeville XC course.
Event Details
* Race Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
* Race Time: 7:00 AM CDT
* Location: Putnam County Sports Complex, Cookeville, TN
Don't want to run but want to donate, it's on the registration page, too.
ALL proceeds after expenses from the race will benefit the Cookeville High School Cross Country
Ready to register? https://runsignup.com/Race/TN/Cookeville/RyanBurnettMemorial5K
If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments section!
