Prairie High School student dies

The members of the Prairie High School girls track team plan to memorialize one of their teammates who died this morning.

Dr. Don Linder, Linn County Medical Examiner, said today that Katlin Abben, 16, died at 7:42 a.m. after being transported from her home to St. Luke's Hospital. Linder said CPR was in progress when Abben arrived; she was resuscitated at the hospital until the time of death.

An autopsy is scheduled Saturday at the State Medical Examiner's Office.

After news of Abben's death reached the high school, crisis team counselors and local church leaders were on campus and available for students who needed to talk.

Abben was a runner and high jumper for the Prairie track team and she also played for the sophomore volleyball team last fall. She had not been practicing due to a back injury.

“We're holding together,” Prairie track coach Chris Perkins said. “The kids have all sorts of ideas on how to memorialize her. It's a rough start to a promising season.”

Perkins said Abben was someone who was never satisfied. “She always wanted to do better,” Perkins said. “She always (asked) what she (needed) to do to get better. She (was) very personable, very likable.”

Abben worked out year-round, according to her coach.

“She (was) such an athlete,” Perkins said. “Other than the back injuries, she (was) a picture of health.”

Perkins remembered Abben being a freshmen greeter earlier this week.

“She was the one that got our freshmen oriented,” Perkins said. “We had a midnight practice (Monday morning), and she was the one that greeted the freshmen when they came in the door and told them where they needed to go.”

There were numerous posts Friday on Abben's Facebook page, including comments that (she) “will be forever missed by friends and family,” “you will not be forgotten” and “we will miss you.”