Rachel Apa Dies After Collapsing During New York City Marathon

Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old first-time marathoner, died after collapsing during the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1, 2026. She was roughly two miles from the finish line in Central Park when she experienced a medical emergency.

Final hours in Central Park

Apa was running as part of the Parkinson’s Champions team to raise funds in memory of her grandfather, who died from the disease in 2022. Her father, Steve Apa, told the New York Times that his daughter had been in perfect health, perfect shape before the race.

Growing up in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, alongside her brothers Dominic and Anthony to parents Michelle and Steve, she attended Red Land High School and excelled in field hockey and lacrosse. She was a two-time First Team Mid-Penn Keystone Division selection and a 2018 Second Team All-State honoree, netting 37 goals and 13 assists across four high school seasons before continuing her athletic career as a forward and Division I field hockey player at Bucknell University. After graduating magna cum laude in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in markets, innovation and design, she worked as a product manager and was pursuing an MBA at Charleston Southern University.

Throughout the course, Apa maintained communication with her family via text message. According to reporting by the New York Times, she sent a message reading Ow at mile 18, followed by Ow, ow at mile 19. She appeared to rally at mile 23, texting her father, final stretch.

Around 1:30 p.m., near the 24th-mile marker, Apa collapsed. A bystander administered CPR before race medical staff arrived to continue resuscitation efforts and use a defibrillator. She was transported to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 9:40 p.m.

Medical context of rhabdomyolysis

Steve Apa stated that doctors identified the cause of death as rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition caused by the breakdown of damaged muscle tissue. When muscles are severely injured, they can release proteins and electrolytes into the bloodstream, which may lead to kidney damage and other systemic complications.

The Cleveland Clinic notes that extreme physical exertion is a known trigger for the condition. While dozens of runners have been treated for rhabdomyolysis during past New York City Marathons, there appears to be no data on deaths during marathons from the condition.

Support for the Parkinson’s Foundation

Apa, a resident of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, was a former Division I field hockey player at Bucknell University. Her fundraising page for the Parkinson’s Champions team remained active as of Tuesday, reflecting more than $12,500 in donations and exceeding her original $4,000 goal.

In a statement regarding the incident, the New York Road Runners said: We are deeply saddened by the death of one of our runners following yesterday’s race. Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with the runner’s family, friends, and the entire running community.

The organization confirmed that the last time a participant in the race died from a medical incident was in 2024. Steve Apa described the loss of his daughter as unfathomable.

Earlier coverage: 34-Year-Old Athlete Dies After Cardiac Arrest at Lille Half Marathon

More on this story: 34-Year-Old Athlete Dies After Cardiac Arrest at Lille Half Marathon

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