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MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2015 SPORTS Turner Field US flag at half-staff after fan dies ATLANTA: The US flag flew at half-staff at Turner Field ers’ wives and families sit.Braves president John ruled a suicide; In 2008, police cited alcohol as a fac- Disturbing doesn’t really go far enough.” yesterday, one day after a fan died following his fall Schuerholz said grief counselors have been made tor after a man died. Major League Baseball said it MLB has said it is studying the issue of fan safety from the upper deck into the lower-level stands dur- available to players’ friends and family members who had been in contact with the Braves and was moni- in the wake of several people being hurt by foul ing a game between the Atlanta Braves and New York witnessed the fall. “It’s just sad and we’re all dealing toring the situation. A sellout crowd of 49,243 was balls and flying bats this season. Some players have Yankees. Mary Beth Hauptle, an investigator with the with the sadness and the tragedy of it for the gentle- the largest of the season at Turner Field. called for more protective netting around the field. Fulton County Medical Examiner, identified the victim man’s family and anybody who happened to witness The Braves are set to move into a new suburban A fan died at Turner Field on Aug 12, 2013, after as Gregory K Murrey, 60, of Alpharetta, Georgia. it,” Schuerholz said. “It’s difficult and that’s what our stadium in 2017. Schuerholz said now is not the falling 85 feet from a walkway on the fourth level of Murrey was pronounced dead at Grady Memorial focus is now.” A Braves security officer blocked an AP time to say if the latest death at Turner Field would the stadium. Investigators from the Fulton County Hospital. reporter from entering section 401 yesterday without affect plans for the new stadium, including the Medical Examiner’s office later ruled that the death The Braves said yesterday they are “deeply sad- a ticket. Braves second baseman Jace Peterson said height of the rails which line the bottom of each of Ronald Lee Homer Jr, 30, was a suicide. In 2008, dened” by Murrey’s death. “Greg was a valued and his girlfriend was close to the spot Murrey fell. “It was section of seats. “We made our plans long before Justin Hayes, 25, died after falling down a stairwell longtime season-ticket holder and an incredibly pas- within 10 feet from her,” Peterson said. “So everybody this event occurred,” Schuerholz said. “Every facility in Atlanta during a game against the Mets. Police sionate Braves fan,” the team said in a statement. “This whose families were here definitely experienced that’s getting built, there’s a great deal of communi- said alcohol contributed to his fall that caused head tragic loss is felt throughout Braves Country, and the some part of it. It’s not good for anyone to see some- cation with architects and engineers and the league injuries. thoughts and prayers of the entire Braves organiza- thing like that. “A lot of player families were right in terms of abiding by league standards for the Two fans died at major league games in 2011. In tion continue to go out to his family and friends.” The there. I heard some pretty graphic stuff. It’s not some- industry. We certainly will do that.” Texas, a man fell about 20 feet to the ground Braves displayed a photo of Murrey on the thing I really want to get into. It’s just unfortunate.” Adam Staudacher and his girlfriend were return- beyond the outfield fence trying to catch a baseball videoboard and observed a moment of silence before Yankees catcher Brian McCann’s mother, who is a ing to their seats near where Murrey fell. tossed his way by Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton. Sunday’s game. nurse, was one of the first to assist Murrey following Staudacher, 33, from Atlanta, said it appeared Shannon Stone, 39 and a firefighter in Brownwood, The fall in the seventh inning immediately fol- his fall. “She ran to him,” said McCann, who began his Murrey landed headfirst on a 3-foot-wide walkway Texas, was attending the Rangers game with his lowed the introduction of Yankees slugger Alex career with the Braves. “She was in the mix trying to between sections. He estimated 20 EMTs immedi- young son. Earlier that year, a 27-year-old man died Rodriguez as a pinch hitter. Lt Charles Hampton of the do everything she could.” ately surrounded the fan and began doing CPR, after falling about 20 feet and striking his head on Atlanta Police Department homicide unit said foul adding they treated him for “five to seven minutes” concrete during a Colorado Rockies home game. play is not suspected at this point. He said no fans Third Death before taking him away. Staudacher said he saw no Witnesses told police the man was trying to slide were hurt in the 200-level seats where the man fell This was the third fan death from a fall at Turner movement from the fan. “There were a ton of kids down a staircase railing at Coors Field and lost his from section 401, landing close to an area where play- Field in eight seasons. In 2013, a fan’s death was right there,” he said. “It was a disturbing scene. balance. —AP BEIJING: The teams of Trinidad and Tobago, silver, the United States, gold, and Great Britain, bronze (from left) stand on the podium during the ceremony for the men’s 4x400 relay at the World Athletics Championships. — AP Kiprop puts Kenya on top in Beijing BEIJING: Asbel Kiprop produced a trademark sprint vidual title winners from the Beijing Olympics to the longer race. Ayana ran the last four laps on her Lashawn Merritt anchored the U.S. team to their end to a world championships that altered very lit- finish to win a third straight 1,500 metres gold and return to the Bird’s Nest and win gold again seven own to better the championship record of Dibaba’s victory in the final event of the championships, see- tle in the landscape of the sport, despite nine days ensure Kenya topped the medals table at successive years later. “I am so proud of myself to become part sister Tirunesh in a time of 14 minutes 26.83 sec- ing off an explosive start to the final lap from young of sometimes spectacular performances. world championships after the final night of action of this exclusive club of three-times world champi- onds, leading Senbere Teferi and the younger Jamaican Javon Francis and crossing the line in two Despite an injury-ravaged season and the form yesterday. The United States men won a sixth ons,” Kiprop told reporters after clocking three min- Dibaba across the line in an Ethiopian sweep. minutes 57.82 seconds. of Justin Gatlin, Usain Bolt finished as he started as straight gold in 4x400m relay but Jamaica’s Novlene utes 34.40 seconds to win. “I had to win the gold medal,” said Ayana, who “I wanted to control the race,” said the 29-year- the dominant athlete of his age with a fifth sprint Williams-Mills ran down tiring American Francena “But I would dearly love to defend the title a won by 17 seconds. “I was so surprised to get such old Merritt, who won his 11th world championship sweep at a major global championships. McCorory in the women’s event to claim a sixth fourth time in London in 2017. This allows me to so easy victory today. I can’t even explain how I did medal. “But I didn’t even know the guy from The sport’s embattled leaders, meanwhile, faced gold in Beijing for the Caribbean powerhouse. join Algeria’s Noureddine Morceli but Hicham El that today.” Ayana’s gold was the second of the day Jamaica who was on the anchor leg. I was in such a as many questions about doping in their final news That was enough for second place on the Guerrouj still has one gold more and that is what I for Ethiopia after the unrelated Mare Dibaba won zone and focused on my people. But that’s the way conference as they did on the eve of competition. medals table ahead of a U.S. team who won only am aiming at.” Genzebe Dibaba’s bid to become the the women’s marathon in a thrilling sprint finish he runs his race. “I wasn’t really fazed. I picked it up a Sebastian Coe, who took over as president of the five gold, their worst tally in the 15 world champi- first woman to win both the 1,500m and 5,000m at along the home straight. little bit because he was running hard. Then he was International Association of Athletics Federations onships. Kiprop, Usain Bolt and his fellow Jamaican the same world championships was thwarted by a Dibaba out-kicked Kenya’s Helah Kiprop to win still running hard, I just shifted a gear.” (IAAF) at the conclusion of the championships, sprinter Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce were the only indi- stunning run from her team mate Almaz Ayana in the gruelling event by just one second, crossing the A fifth straight title defence was an appropriate knows he has a big job ahead of him. —Reuters finish line in two hours, 27 minutes and 35 seconds.