Marathoner Frank Meza, 70, found dead in river after his disqualification for cheating

TheComputerGroup · Jul 5, 2019

A 70-year-old man found dead in the Los Angeles River on Thursday had been disqualified last week after appearing to set a new record for his age group in the city’s March marathon.

Frank Meza, a retired physician who has denied the cheating accusations, died Thursday after telling his wife he was going for a run.

“I said, ‘It will be good for you,’ and he said, ‘I‘ll see you later,’” Tina Meza told the Daily Beast.

She said all she knows is that he was found in the river.

KABC-TV reported his body was found in shallow water Thursday morning and cited officials as saying the cause of death was not suspected to be from drowning.

Meza's L.A. Marathon time was questioned after he finished in 2 hours 53 minutes and 10 seconds — the fastest ever for a man his age.

Organizers of the race on June 28 accused Meza of leaving the course at one point and re-entering at another after conducting an investigation and reviewing video.

Meza told the L.A. Times he left the race to use a bathroom and “didn’t cut the course.”

His wife told the Daily Beast that running was very important to him.

“He had been running marathons for the last 30 or 40 years," she said. "He was very fast, quite fast, and now, unfortunately, he won’t run marathons anymore.”

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/marathoner-dead-in-river-disqualification-cheating

unusualsusp11 · Jul 5, 2019

sounds like the wife isn't all that broken up about it. cracking one liners about it.

Doug · Jul 5, 2019

What was the old record ?

tatehill2000 · Jul 5, 2019

unusualsusp11 said:
sounds like the wife isn't all that broken up about it. cracking one liners about it.

Retired Dr. wife?? no,,,, she will be A ok,,, the pool boy can sleep over now,,

tar_heel_in_sc · Jul 5, 2019

unusualsusp11 said:
sounds like the wife isn't all that broken up about it. cracking one liners about it.

My first thought as I read the article. They better run toxicology reports, she just might have slipped something in his water bottle.

Doug · Jul 5, 2019

It's quite possible for someone to dislike their spouse after a long marriage fizzles, doesn't mean murder or explain the shortcut he took

unusualsusp11 · Jul 5, 2019

Doug said:
It's quite possible for someone to dislike their spouse after a long marriage fizzles, doesn't mean murder or explain the shortcut he took

it does on every crime drama tv show i've ever seen. columbo could get to the bottom of this.

busterhyman · Jul 5, 2019

must of had 2 piss again...and didn't make it out

Michelangelo · Jul 5, 2019

The guy had been accused of fudging with road race times before.

Even doctors can be coocoo.

Coldweather · Jul 5, 2019

It sounds like some funny business! Not good. Sorry he died. RIP my friend!

Doug · Jul 6, 2019

Michelangelo said:
The guy had been accused of fudging with road race times before.

Even doctors can be coocoo.

Exactly, that sounds mighty fast for a 70 year old man to run 26+ miles !

These young Kenyans take over 2 hours, he is a fraud for sure !

Wifey probably just relieved to be rid of him, I doubt she actually hired his demise...first person detectives look at is spouse, and they have lots of resources to do so, with or without Peter Falk, who tragically died as a very demented man that had no recollection of being Columbo, in his final years, I would hate to exit that way, and fear dementia intensely since my mother had it.

HarryCaray · Jul 6, 2019

Apparently you don't fuck with the marathon crowd, they don't fuck around.

Doug · Jul 6, 2019

Ok, how about some hard verifiable isfacts for men over 40,50,60,70 ?

unusualsusp11 · Jul 6, 2019

HarryCaray said:
Apparently you don't fuck with the marathon crowd, they don't fuck around.

rosie ruiz was ostracized forever for her stunt in the boston marathon many years ago. it's a silly sport to watch or participate in but they take it seriously.

joebatters · Jul 7, 2019

Eddie George ran a marathon after he retired. He said that completing a marathon was harder than playing in the NFL.

Doug · Jul 7, 2019

joebatters said:
Eddie George ran a marathon after he retired. He said that completing a marathon was harder than playing in the NFL.

Not true at all, there is no time requirement.

In 2017 over 50k people entered the NYC marathon, better than 98 percent finished.

I don't buy this 70 year old doctor doing it in under 3 hours especially since he is an alleged cheater

joebatters · Jul 7, 2019

Well, a trained athlete who played professionally is naturally going to want to do more than just finish.Anyway, those are his words I remember from an interview he did.

TheComputerGroup · Jul 9, 2019

Death of marathon runner, 70, disqualified for cheating, ruled suicide: coroner

The marathon runner who was found dead in a river last week after being disqualified from the Los Angeles Marathon for alleged cheating died by suicide, the coroner's office said.

Frank Meza, a 70-year-old retired physician, told his wife he was going for a run on Thursday but was later found dead in the Los Angeles River following reports that someone might have jumped from a bridge.

Meza, of South Pasadena, died of multiple blunt force traumatic injuries, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office. His death was ruled a suicide.

The 70-year-old was a longtime marathon runner.

On June 28, organizers of the Los Angeles Marathon accused Meza of cheating after he finished the race in 2 hours 53 minutes and 10 seconds — the fastest time ever for a man his age.

Organizers, after conducting an investigation and reviewing video, claimed he left the course at one point and later re-entered at another point. Meza told the Los Angeles Times he left the race to use a bathroom and "didn’t cut the course."

"All kinds of allegations were being thrown at me. It was pretty traumatic," Meza said. Earlier in the week, he said he hoped to run his next marathon with an official observer by his side to prove wrong those who believe he cheated.

Marathon officials later awarded Dan Adams first place in the 70-74 age group. He finished with a time of 4 hours 10 minutes and 7 seconds.

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/marathon-runner-70-disqualified-cheating-suicide

skins85 · Jul 9, 2019

Doug said:
Not true at all, there is no time requirement.

In 2017 over 50k people entered the NYC marathon, better than 98 percent finished.

I don't buy this 70 year old doctor doing it in under 3 hours especially since he is an alleged cheater

New york marathon for most users requires you to qualify to enter with a previous marathon time within that year. you can get in other ways but for most people you cant just walk a marathon. most marathons have time requirements because the roads must open back up at a certain time. most marathons require a 14 to 15 minute pace or they will pull you from the race. to qualify for the new york marathon based on time you have to be pretty fast. there is a bus that comes and will take anyone slower than a 15 minute pace. you can keep running, but technically your too slow. you can continue on your own since they really dont have the ability to stop anyone from running on a public road.

ran 2 marathons and training for the marine corps marathon this year. the training is tough but cant imagine it comparing to the punishment of the nfl. im hoping to break 4 hours this time-havnt done it yet. his times are so fast that he wouldnt be in a large crowd running so he should be alone and visible to spectators and the cameras along the courses.

this guy is pretty clearly a liar. the video evidence is pretty telling and the photos of him appearing at a certain point he is not sweating or even appear tired at later points in the race.
all bibs have a chip in them which take your picture and clock your time as you go. he has been accused of cheating multiple times and doesnt appear in multiple points where his picture would have been taken if he was in the race.

reportedly people had called authorities because there was a man on a bridge about to jump. seems like he didnt drown but jumped to his death. Sad story.

Doug · Jul 9, 2019

Not being the fastest 70 year old runner hardly seemed reason to off yourself, dude must have comfortable enough financially, healthy enough to attempt a marathon, pretty weird !