Santa Barbara Police Investigate Suspicious Circumstances at Half Marathon

Nineteen runners were treated at Santa Barbara and Goleta Valley Cottage Hospitals on Sunday after a half marathon that drew more than 7,500 registered participants.

The sudden influx of patients, all presenting with similar symptoms of an undetermined cause, has triggered an investigation by the Santa Barbara Police Department into suspicious circumstances.

This morning 19 participants arrived at Cottage EDs, a number of them with similar symptoms of undetermined cause, said Cristina Cortez, a spokesperson for Cottage Health. We are working to determine whether this is due to the heat or other factors.

While officials probe the medical incidents, Event Director David Monico maintained that organizers have observed nothing beyond standard endurance-event complications. “At this time, we have no reason to believe that there was anything out of the ordinary that occurred during today’s race, besides typical heat-related illness or exhaustion that can take place while participating in long endurance events such as a half marathon,” Monico said.

Santa Barbara recorded a high of 86 degrees on Sunday. The 13.1-mile course, organized by Run Local and sponsored by Hoka, featured steep elevation changes, including a 100-foot climb within the first two miles. Monico attributed the higher-than-usual volume of hospital transports to the combination of unseasonably warm weather and an increased number of runners.

Participants echoed the difficulty of the day. The heat definitely threw me off a bit, said runner Claire Hindman, who completed the course with her fiancé, Christian Noyola. Noyola reported that he struggled throughout the trek.

In the wake of unverified social media rumors regarding potential water station contamination, Monico emphasized that officials are performing due diligence to verify the facts. Medical staff stationed along the route—which featured water and electrolyte stations every 1.5 to 2.5 miles—reported observing only standard symptoms of dehydration and heat exhaustion.

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Police advised that the general public need not take specific action, though anyone feeling unwell should seek medical guidance. Authorities have requested that anyone with information regarding the incident contact Sgt. Andre Miller at 805-897-2330. The annual Santa Barbara Half Marathon drew about 7,500 registered participants and was supported by more than 400 volunteers and staff.

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