Odessa College cross-country runner Gage Broomall dies after collapsing at practice

A 20-year-old Odessa College student-athlete, Gage Broomall, died after collapsing at the start of a cross-country practice on Thursday afternoon, the college said.

Broomall, a second-year student from Hallsville, Texas, was preparing for a training session with the Wranglers when he suddenly collapsed. Emergency personnel responded quickly, but he did not survive, the college confirmed in a statement, describing him as “a valued member of the Odessa College Wrangler family.” The statement said the loss was felt deeply by teammates, coaches, classmates and all who knew him and extended the college’s thoughts and prayers to his family, friends and loved ones.

Odessa College said it and the Broomall family have launched the Gage Broomall Memorial Scholarship Fund and are accepting donations in his honor. The college did not provide further details about the circumstances surrounding his collapse or a cause of death.

Teammates, coaches and campus officials held an on-site gathering following the incident, according to the college statement, and counseling resources were made available to students and staff. The athletics department did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment.

Broomall was listed as a member of the Wranglers’ cross-country roster in his second year at the college. The program and the wider Odessa College community offered condolences on social media, and several local officials and athletic programs issued messages of sympathy.

No law enforcement or medical examiner reports have been released publicly. It is common in such cases for an autopsy or medical review to be conducted to determine an official cause of death; the college said it would provide updates as appropriate.

The sudden death of a collegiate athlete during training draws renewed attention to on-campus emergency response protocols and medical oversight of athletic programs. Odessa College said it would cooperate with any outside inquiries and review the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Funeral arrangements and additional details about the scholarship fund were being handled by the family and the college. The statement asked for privacy for the family during this time of grieving and urged that donations in Broomall’s memory be directed to the memorial scholarship.