Runner Rachel Apa Dies After Collapsing Two Miles From NYC Marathon Finish

Rachel Apa collapsed on Sunday while running the New York City Marathon, an incident that led to her death on Tuesday. She was just over two miles from the finish line when she fell near the 24-mile mark in Central Park.

The New York Police Department reported that Apa was transported to Mount Sinai Medical Center after event medical staff administered CPR and used a defibrillator. Doctors treated her for several hours, but she remained in critical condition until she died. Her father, Steve Apa, said she was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition where muscle tissue breaks down and releases substances that can poison the body.

Michaela Nicholas, a hospital social worker, was watching the race when the incident occurred. Nicholas recalled calling out to Apa as she passed. About 15 yards later, Apa collapsed. Nicholas said she held Apa's hand while two other spectators performed CPR. She told reporters by phone on Tuesday that she prayed for the runner and told her she was loved.

Apa was a 24-year-old resident of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania. She had entered the 26.2-mile race for the first time to raise money for Parkinson's disease research in memory of her grandfather, who died in 2022. She graduated from Bucknell University in 2024 with a degree in markets, innovation and design. During her time there, she scored 17 goals as a Division I field hockey player.

Before the marathon, Apa worked as a product manager for an electrical component company. She had recently started a master's program at Charleston Southern University. Steve Apa described his daughter as being in perfect health before the race. He called the event unfathomable to the family and friends who knew her as an active individual.

The race marked the 50th anniversary of the marathon's five-borough format. A record 61,000 runners finished on Sunday. New York Road Runners, the organization that manages the event, issued a statement expressing its sadness and offering condolences to Apa's family. Bucknell University and USA Field Hockey also issued statements honoring her memory.

Donations to Apa's fundraising page, sponsored by the Parkinson's Foundation, quickly exceeded her original goal of $4,000. On the page, she wrote that her grandfather taught her to stay active and push her limits.