CLEVELAND– The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office released the cause of death for the woman who died following this year’s Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon.

Taylor Ceepo, 22, collapsed less than a mile from the finish line on May 19. She was rushed to University Hospitals, where she passed away, surrounding by her mother and boyfriend.

The medical examiner’s office said the cause was sudden cardiac death in association with physical exertion, pseudoephedrine use and cardiomyopathy.

Her family released the following statement to FOX 8:

“The family of Taylor Paige Ceepo would like to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support since Taylor passed away on May 19 while running the Cleveland Marathon.

Taylor played soccer for 17 years, ever since she was five years old; she loved the sport and her teammates so much.

‘We had no idea that Taylor had undiagnosed cardiomyopathy; she had annual physicals every year in high school and college, and we would recommend to any parent that they check their son or daughter for this underlying condition.  Since Taylor passed away, we have had our daughter Isabella – also a soccer athlete – checked for basic cardio function, but will now try to check for this particular issue at the Cleveland Clinic. We will miss our beautiful, loving daughter forever, but know that she is in the arms of her savior.'”

Ceepo was a recent graduate of Walsh University and attended St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron.

The family is establishing a scholarship fund – the Taylor Paige Ceepo Scholarship Fund – at the Cleveland Foundation in the coming weeks.  Scholarship proceeds will enable Saint Vincent Saint Mary High School and Walsh University athletes to further their high school and/or college education.

Continuing coverage of this story here