Roughly 7,500 people registered to run in the Santa Barbara Half Marathon on Sunday. Twenty five later sought treatment at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
Roughly 7,500 people registered to run in the Santa Barbara Half Marathon on Sunday. Twenty five later sought treatment at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and police are investigating 'unusual symptoms.' Credit: Courtesy Santa Barbara Half Marathon

Cottage Health hospitals have discharged 24 Santa Barbara Half Marathon runners who sought medical treatment during and after Sunday’s event, a spokesperson confirmed.

Three patients were still in the hospital in stable condition, spokesperson Cristina Cortez said Monday morning.

The Santa Barbara Police Department announced Sunday that the department was investigating after the half-marathon runners sought medical treatment for “unusual symptoms.”

Emergency crews responded to several areas along the race route, including State and Cota streets, between 9:40 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

Rumors spread on social media that a water station had been spiked. Police said Sunday night that no cause of the symptoms had been identified.

Santa Barbara City Fire Department and Cottage Health spokespeople initially said on Sunday that 19 Santa Barbara Half Marathon runners had been transported to Cottage emergency departments that morning.

Cortez said on Monday that Cottage ultimately treated 27 runners.

Roughly 7,500 people registered to run in the event.

“Cottage teams responded quickly to provide care for these patients, while continuing ongoing care for other hospital and emergency visits as well,” Cortez said in an email. “We thank our local first responders for their partnership in caring for our community.”

Police Lt. Nathan Beltran told Noozhawk Monday morning that there were no additional updates available.

Santa Barbara Half Marathon Event Director David Monico told Noozhawk on Sunday that organizers have “no reason to believe that it’s anything more than just the heat and exhaustion from the half marathon.”

He said it is not unusual to have people transported to the hospital during a “warm day” such as Sunday.

Sunday had a high of 86 degrees.

“Even on some of our cooler days we’ll have some transports,” he said.

Police recommended that anyone with information about this incident should reach out to Sgt. Andre Miller at 805.897.2330.  

Additional information was not immediately available.

Check back with Noozhawk for updates to this story.

— Noozhawk South County editor Evelyn Spence can be reached at espence@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.