Former Palatine prep sports standout dies in boating accident

A former Palatine High School football and track standout attending Carthage College has died, officials say.

Courtland Cornelius, a first-year student at the college in Kenosha, Wisconsin, died in a boating accident Friday night, school officials said.

Cornelius graduated from Palatine High School in 2017 and was competing in track as a freshman at Carthage College.

In a statement, Carthage track coach Josh Henry called Cornelius "a dedicated student, a talented athlete and an extremely promising young man."

He was a star in the 100-meter dash during high school and continued his success at the collegiate level. Just weeks ago, Cornelius ran a record-setting race as part of the college's 4x100 relay, school officials said.

"In the days ahead, we will work with Courtland's family to determine a fitting way to honor his memory and legacy at Carthage," President John Swallow said in a news release.

"For now, I ask that you keep his family in your thoughts and prayers as they begin to cope with this tragedy."

A funeral for Cornelius is scheduled for Saturday, June 2, at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road in Arlington Heights, with visitation from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.