Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, died after collapsing during the final stages of Sunday’s New York City Marathon, her father, Steve Apa, told The New York Times. She was in Central Park, about two miles from the finish, and running her first marathon with the Parkinson’s Champions team in honor of her late grandfather, who had the disease.
Apa had played college field hockey. Her father described her as being in “perfect health, perfect shape.” Her parents, Steve and Michelle Apa, were cheering her on during the race. Michelle filmed her smiling at mile 14; at mile 18, Rachel texted her father “Ow,” then sent “Ow, ow” a mile later. She later messaged him “final stretch” at mile 23.
She collapsed soon afterward. A member of the public performed CPR before race medical staff used a defibrillator and took her to Mount Sinai Medical Center. Doctors tried to save her, but she died at 9:40 p.m. Steve Apa told The New York Times that the cause was rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition in which muscles break down that can be triggered by strenuous exercise.
Rachel had recently begun an MBA program at Charleston Southern University. The New York Road Runners, which organizes the marathon, said it was “deeply saddened” by the death and offered its sympathies to her family, friends and the running community. The organization said the last participant in the race to die from a medical incident did so in 2024.
Sources: The Guardian Sport.