Brilliant weather and a record field added up to an overwhelming success Thursday for the ninth annual Gobble Jog races that benefit MUST Ministries in Marietta. But the upbeat mood of the day turned somber during the 10K race when a runner collapsed at the finish line and later died at WellStar Kennestone Hospital, the Journal learned Thursday night.

Allen Scott Gill, 53, of Paulding County was running in the race along with his wife, Rose. Just as he crossed the finish line, race officials say, he collapsed and emergency personnel began performing CPR immediately. His wife was running about 5 minutes behind her husband and this was the devastating scene she came upon at the finish line.

An estimated field of about 10,000 runners for the day’s races were cleared away along Church Street on the Marietta Square and an ambulance took Gill to WellStar Kennestone, where he was later pronounced dead.

Dr. Dwight “Ike” Reighard, who took over as CEO of MUST Ministries just over a month ago, was at the finish line when Gill collapsed. He went straight to the hospital.

“This is why I say every day in life is tissue-thin,” Reighard said. “It just broke my heart when they came out and said he had passed.

“They let his wife go into the room then, and when she came out, she was holding his (race) number.

“I guarantee you we will retire that number and we will honor him in some way next year.”

Kaye Cagle, director of marketing and church services for MUST, said she is unaware of any runners collapsing in previous races and that no other injuries were reported in Thursday’s events.