Graycen Vargo was competing in New Orleans when he suffered a medical emergency.
TEXARKANA, Texas — A Texas A&M University-Texarkana distance runner died after collapsing during a conference championship race Friday in New Orleans, the school said, prompting tributes from two universities and leaving the cause of the medical emergency undisclosed.
Graycen Vargo, a junior computer science major from Dallas, was competing at the Red River Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships when he collapsed. The meet was hosted by Xavier University of Louisiana at Tad Gormley Stadium. Texas A&M-Texarkana announced his death Saturday and said counseling staff would be available for students as the campus mourned one of its cross country and track and field athletes.
The university said Vargo suffered a medical emergency Friday afternoon during competition and received immediate medical attention at the site. He was then taken to a local hospital, where he died. Xavier athletics said Vargo collapsed during the men’s 3,000-meter race. The event was listed on the Friday schedule for 3:55 p.m., after the women’s 3,000 meters and relay races. School officials did not release his age, a cause of death or details about the medical response beyond saying he was treated on site before being transferred to a hospital.
Vargo was in his first year with the Eagles after previously competing at Jacksonville College. Texas A&M-Texarkana said he had recently received the Eagle Excellence Award for Cross Country during the university’s annual athletic awards ceremony. The award honors student-athletes who make a positive impact on campus, within their teams and in the community while showing character and academic excellence. University President Ross Alexander called Vargo’s death an “unimaginable loss” and said he was a “respected member” of the student body and a “beloved member” of the cross country and track and field teams.
Texas A&M-Texarkana Director of Athletics Ryan Wall said the athletic department felt “heartfelt sorrow” after Vargo’s death. Xavier University of Louisiana also issued a statement, saying its athletic department extended condolences to Vargo’s family, teammates and the Texas A&M-Texarkana community. Curtis Wright, Xavier’s vice president of student affairs, said the school was “heartbroken” by the death of a young athlete during a championship meet hosted on its campus. Wright said Xavier athletics “stands in solidarity” with the Eagles program and others affected by the loss.
The Red River Athletic Conference meet was scheduled for April 24 and 25 at Tad Gormley Stadium, a 26,500-seat outdoor venue in New Orleans’ City Park. The meet manual listed athletic trainers, team medical providers and emergency contacts as part of the event plan. It also said athletes in running events were required to check in 30 minutes before their events. The 2026 meet brought men’s and women’s teams to New Orleans for field events, relays, distance races and sprints across two days of competition.
Vargo’s athletic record showed a distance runner who had competed in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. At Jacksonville College, he was listed as a sophomore from Dallas and a graduate of Village Tech High School. His recorded events included 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters, 8-kilometer cross country races, 3-mile races and 4-mile races. His results included a 10:21.53 indoor 3,000-meter time in January 2024, a 17:19.37 outdoor 5,000-meter time in April 2024 and an 8-kilometer cross country time of 27:50.6 in October 2024.
No public report had identified a specific medical cause by Sunday, and neither Texas A&M-Texarkana nor Xavier announced a separate investigation timeline. The school’s statement focused on Vargo’s family, teammates and friends. Because the death happened during an athletic competition in New Orleans, any further official findings could come through university officials, event organizers or local authorities. As of Sunday, the publicly released record did not say whether an autopsy had been ordered or when additional medical information could be released.
The death left the Texas A&M-Texarkana program mourning a student-athlete who had only recently joined the Eagles. The university said Vargo’s presence would be missed across campus, not only among teammates. Xavier’s statement added another layer of grief from the host school, where the meet continued to be tied to the loss. The statements did not describe the scene after the collapse, but both schools framed the death as a shared blow to the conference track community.
Texas A&M-Texarkana had not released funeral, memorial or service details by Sunday. The university said student counseling services were available as the campus awaited any further updates on Vargo’s death.
Author note: Last updated April 26, 2026.