Youth Pastor, 24, Dies After Suffering Cardiac Arrest During Marathon Just Moments After Kissing His Wife

A 24-year-old youth pastor has died after suffering cardiac arrest while running the Portland Marathon in Oregon, leaving his wife, family and church community devastated.

Treyton “Trey” Lara collapsed near the 20-mile mark of the race on October 4, 2026, according to his family. He was rushed to a hospital, where medical teams attempted to save his life, but he later died. He was just days away from celebrating his 25th birthday.

Earlier in the race, Lara had stopped briefly to see his wife, Audrey Shin-Lara. She recalled that he ran over, smiled and gave her a kiss before continuing along the course. At the time, he appeared to be doing well.

Audrey said her husband had trained for several months and loved running as a way to relax. His sudden collapse left their loved ones struggling to understand what had happened, particularly because she said he had shown no obvious warning signs.

Beyond his role as a pastor, Lara shared a passion for helping young people grow in their faith and leadership. He and Audrey had recently launched Camp Genesis, a project that fulfilled a longtime dream of his. He had also taken on a national role with the Foursquare Church, supporting church planting and developing young leaders.

His death has prompted an outpouring of grief and support from friends, fellow church members and people touched by his work. A fundraiser was established to help his family with medical bills, funeral expenses and other costs during this difficult time.

The Portland Marathon organizers confirmed that a medical emergency occurred during the race and expressed gratitude to the people who assisted the runner.

For Audrey, the loss is especially painful because she remembers seeing her husband smiling just moments before the emergency. A brief kiss during the race has now become a treasured final memory of a young man whose life was devoted to faith, family and helping others.

Source: PEOPLE