Johns Hopkins Track Athlete And Ohio Native Abigail Bastien Dies


Sandusky Central Catholic (Oh.) High and Johns Hopkins University lost a member of its track and field family, the college released in a statement Thursday. 

Abigail Bastien was found dead early Thursday morning just north of the university's Homewood Campus, the Baltimore Sun reported

Bastien was a rising sophomore working in the college's cell biology department at the School of Medicine over the summer. She was also a sprinter on the track and field team.

"On behalf of the entire Johns Hopkins community, we offer our deepest sympathies to Abby's family and friends," Kevin G. Shollenberger, the vice provost of student affairs, and Toni Blackwell, senior associate dean of student life, said in an email to the Hopkins community on Thursday.

"Her coaches say that Abby always had a smile on her face, loved being a student-athlete at Johns Hopkins, and deeply cared for the members of her team."

The university is currently working with the Baltimore Police Department to assist an ongoing investigation, wrote Sunil Kumar, who is the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Johns Hopkins, though he added that the BPD has informed the college that "there were no obvious signs of foul play at the scene." 

"Together, we mourn the loss of such a promising member of our community."

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bastien's family, friends, teammates and coaches as well as the entire Ohio high school track and cross country community in this difficult time.