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Marmion coach improving after shot put hit at Elgin meet

A 42-year-old coach from Marmion Academy in Aurora suffered serious injuries Friday night after he was hit in the head with a 12-pound shot put at Elgin High School, officials said.

Ed DeGeeter was listed in stable condition at Presence Saint Joseph Hospital in Elgin Saturday night.

"He's doing a little bit better," said Marmion Athletic Director Joe Chivari, who rode with DeGeeter in the ambulance. " ... From what I was told, he was able to answer some questions."

During warm-ups at the Illinois High School Association sectional track and field meet at Elgin High School, a male student athlete launched the shot put that struck DeGeeter.

Chivari said he was told DeGeeter, whom he described as a safety-minded shot put and discus coach, was standing at least eight feet outside of a pie-shaped throwing sector, looking down at his clipboard. DeGeeter was running the shot put event along with another coach, Chivari said.

The meet was delayed for 20 minutes after DeGeeter was hit. He was bleeding but conscious, said Daily Herald sports writer Jerry Fitzpatrick, who covered the competition Friday. At first, the coach resisted paramedics, Fitzpatrick added.

Criminal charges will not be filed, Elgin Police Cmdr. Glenn Theriault said Saturday.

"It was no criminal act; it was certainly no nefarious act," he said. "It was just a horrible accident."

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