Bear kills race runner

AUTHORITIES say a black bear killed a 16-year-old runner while he was competing in an Alaska race.

The Alaska Dispatch News reports the teenager, whose identify has not been released, was a participant in the juniors division of the Robert Spurr Memorial Hill Climb race between Anchorage and Girdwood. The runner had apparently made it to the halfway point turnaround on Bird Ridge trail and was on his way down when he texted a family member that he was being chased by a bear.