It doesn’t make sense. Elite, healthy college athletes are not supposed to die within hours of first feeling ill. But that’s exactly what happened to Lauren Jones.
On Wednesday, two campuses 2,600 miles apart mourned the sudden death of the gymnast. As a freshman on the national champion University of Oregon acrobatics and tumbling team, Jones was just beginning her college career. Back at Southwest DeKalb High School, Jones was already a legend.
“Lauren was always the best at whatever she did,” former coach Kathleen Richey-Walton said. “There wasn’t anything Lauren couldn’t do.”
A natural athlete who also played tennis and performed in the band, Jones loved cheerleading and gymnastics the most. She didn’t just push herself, but also her teammates, Richey-Walton told Channel 2 Action News.
Captain of the high school gymnastics team. Team MVP as a senior. Captain of her club competitive cheerleading team. MVP of her high school’s varsity cheer squad. Honor roll student. Chemistry major. Jones had a lofty resume for any 18-year-old.
On Tuesday, Jones felt ill, and paramedics were called to her dorm, a campus spokesman told local media. Later Tuesday, Jones died.
It was not known late Wednesday what caused Jones’ death. But a contagious, though rare bacterial infection that sickened three others on the Oregon campus was suspected: meningococcemia. An autopsy and tests were scheduled to be conducted Wednesday, according to a spokesman for Lane County Public Health in Oregon.
Meningococcal disease can refer to any illness that is caused by the type of bacteria known as meningococcus (pronounced muh-ning-goh-KOK-us), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These illnesses are often severe and can include meningitis, which affects the lining of the brain and spinal cord, and bloodstream infections, such as bacteremia or septicemia.
The bacteria are spread through respiratory and throat secretions, meaning those living in close quarters, such as in college dorms, can contract it easier than others. Infants are also susceptible, according to the CDC.
Still, outbreaks are rare and responsible for less than 5 percent of all cases. About 10 percent of people in the United States have the bacteria with no problems.
Meningococcal disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics, but quick medical attention is necessary to avoid lifelong complications. Between 1,000 and 1,200 people are diagnosed each year in the United States with meningococcal disease, and 10 to 15 percent of those treated still do not survive.
On Monday night, University of Georgia freshman Tanzila Alam, 18, died, and some believed bacterial meningitis was the cause. However, the university said there was no evidence of the disease on the campus.
Back in Oregon, teammates, classmates and others in the college community were stunned at the news of Jones’ death, with some using social media to express condolences.
“Our family has lost a young sister: my heart is heavy with sadness,” Michael Connelly, a University of Oregon instructor, posted under a story on Jones’ death. “May we help one another to heal. Be extra kind to one another today.”
The Ducks acrobatics and tumbling team will host its first home meet Saturday.
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