Runner Collapses During Half Marathon

A 40-year-old participant in the Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half Marathon was in grave condition after he collapsed Sunday, fire officials said.

The man, whose identity was not released, collapsed in the 600 block of W. Olympic Blvd. in downtown at 9:37 a.m., said Erik Scott of the Los Angeles City Fire Department.

Paramedics performed CPR and rushed him to an area hospital in grave condition, Scott said.

The half marathon began Sunday morning at L.A. live on Figueroa Street, went south to the Los Angeles Memorial Sport Arena, looped back downtown, then east through Little Tokyo and back.

A field of 15,000 runners participated in the 13-mile half marathon, said race publicist Dina Rosenberg. The last runner crossed the finish line at 11:56 a.m.