Runner dies after collapsing two miles from NYC Marathon finish

Summarised from 9 outlets · 17 reports · Updated 4 Nov, 16:54 · Archive

Rachel Apa, 24, collapsed near mile 24 of the New York City Marathon in Central Park and died at hospital later that evening.

Rachel Apa, 24, from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, collapsed in Central Park during Sunday's New York City Marathon at approximately mile 24, roughly two miles from the finish line. She was running her first marathon as part of the Parkinson's Champions team, fundraising for the Parkinson's Foundation in honour of her late grandfather.

Apa was a former Division I field hockey player at Bucknell University, graduating in May 2024 with a degree in markets, innovation and design. After graduating she worked as a product manager at TE Connectivity, an electrical component company, and had recently begun an MBA programme at Charleston Southern University. She had trained for the marathon for several months.

Throughout the race, Apa texted her father, Steve Apa, who was tracking her progress from their home in Pennsylvania using the marathon app. At mile 18, she wrote 'Ow'. At mile 19, she texted 'Ow ow'. At mile 23, her father texted 'Final stretch' and she responded with the same message. Her mother, Michelle Apa, who was watching the race in person, had filmed Apa smiling and waving at mile 14 in Queens. At mile 24, around 1.30pm on Sunday, Apa collapsed in Central Park.

A hospital social worker named Michaela Nicholas witnessed the collapse and ran to help. She found Apa unresponsive without a pulse. Two physicians from the crowd administered CPR in turns. Race medical staff arrived with a defibrillator at 1.40pm, and paramedics transported Apa to Mount Sinai Medical Center by ambulance at 1.50pm. Doctors attempted to save her life for six hours before she was pronounced dead at 9.40pm.

Apa's father told the New York Times his daughter died from rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition in which skeletal muscles break down rapidly and poison the bloodstream. The condition can be brought on by heavy exertion. Steve Apa described his daughter as having been in 'perfect health, perfect shape' at age 24. However, the BBC and other outlets report that the city medical examiner's office said it is still investigating her cause of death.

The New York Road Runners, who organise the marathon, said in a statement: '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.' According to one outlet, marathon deaths are rare, with approximately one fatality per 500,000 runners, typically due to cardiac events. The same report noted that whilst dozens of runners have required treatment for rhabdomyolysis during the NYC Marathon according to a 2022 study, there appears to be no data on deaths from the condition during marathons.

How it is being reported

• Runner, 24, sent heartbreaking final texts to dad during New York Marathon before tragedyThere was a tragedy at the New York City marathon after a young woman passed away as she was entering the final miles of the eventThe Mirror · 4 Nov, 11:54
• Runner, 24, dies after collapsing near finish line of New York marathonMarathon runner Rachel Apa, 24, had played field hockey and was always active and healthy, her dad said (Picture: Instagram/@rachelapa) A runner with an athletic background died after collapsing during the 2026 New York City marathon two miles before the finish line. Rachel Apa was one of more…Metro · 4 Nov, 10:41
• Woman, 24, dies during NY marathon as father reveals she suffered rare conditionRachel Apa, 24, dies in Central Park just 3km from the New York Marathon finish line after her father reveals she suffered from a rare condition.ABC News Australia · 3 Nov, 22:19
• Heartbreaking final messages New York City Marathon runner Rachel Apa sent to her father before her tragic death are revealedThe 24-year-old former college field hockey player was pronounced dead at a New York hospital after collapsing in Central Park - not far from the finish line of Sunday's race.Daily Mail Sport · 3 Nov, 21:30
• Young NYC Marathon runner collapses and dies two miles from finish lineThe city medical examiner's office said it is still investigating Rachel Apa's cause of death.BBC News · 3 Nov, 21:17
• A woman running the NYC marathon for charity dies 2 miles from the finishA young Pennsylvania woman running the New York City Marathon for the first time to raise money for Parkinson’s disease research collapsed just over two miles from the finish line and later diedIndependent World · 3 Nov, 19:00
• NYC Marathon runner Rachel Apa was lifelong athlete, ‘always on the go’ before dying from rhabdomyolysisNew York City Marathon runner Rachel Apa was described as a lifelong athlete who was "always on the go," by loved ones and former teammates, following her tragic death at age 24 during Sunday's race from the rare muscular condition, rhabdomyolysis.New York Post · 3 Nov, 18:50
• Healthy 24-year-old athlete dies just 2 miles from NYC marathon finish line after sending dad chilling textsRachel Apa's father says rhabdomyolysis killed the 24-year-old NYC marathon runner, who collapsed at mile 24 during her first-ever race Sunday.Fox News · 3 Nov, 17:59
• NYC Marathon runner Rachel Apa told dad ‘I’ve never felt this good’ before collapsing in home stretchNew York City Marathon runner Rachel Apa told her dad she had "never felt this good" before collapsing in the final stretch, her devastated family revealed.New York Post · 3 Nov, 16:24
• 24-year-old dies after collapsing during her first New York City MarathonThe 24-year-old Pennsylvanian had texted ‘Ow ow’ to her father, five miles before she collapsedIndependent World · 3 Nov, 15:38
• Heartbroken father of New York City Marathon runner who died reveals what killed his daughter, 24: 'It's unfathomable'The 24-year-old former college field hockey player was pronounced dead at a New York hospital after collapsing in Central Park.Daily Mail Sport · 3 Nov, 15:07
• NYC Marathon runner Rachel Apa died from rare rhabdomyolysis, which causes muscles to disintegrate and poison the bloodA young New York City Marathon runner who collapsed in the final stretch died from a rare muscle condition -- despite being in "perfect health," her devastated family has revealed.New York Post · 3 Nov, 14:56
• The sudden health complication you can develop from exercise — as healthy NYC marathoner, 24, dies following raceRachel Apa died from rhabdomyolysis, when muscles break down, flooding the blood with proteins and electrolytes, damaging critical organs.New York Post · 3 Nov, 14:15
• NYC Marathon runner Rachel Apa sent heartbreaking final text before dying on race dayThe New York City marathon runner who died after collapsing just two miles from the finish line sent a string of heartbreaking texts to her dad during Sunday’s race.New York Post · 3 Nov, 13:49
• 24-year-old woman dies after collapsing in final stages of New York City MarathonFather says Rachel Apa died from rhabdomyolysis Runner was former college athlete in ‘perfect shape’ A 24-year-old woman died after collapsing during the final stages of Sunday’s New York City Marathon , her father has said. Rachel Apa’s father, Steve Apa, told the New York Times his daughter was in Central Park, two miles from the end of the race, when she collapsed. It was Rachel’s first marathon and she was running as part of the Parkinson’s Champions team in honor of her late grandfather, who suffered from the disease. Continue reading...The Guardian · 3 Nov, 12:36
• NYC Marathon runner Rachel Apa dies after collapsing in Central Park two miles from finish lineA New York City marathon runner died after collapsing in Central Park two miles from the finish line.New York Post · 3 Nov, 08:46
• New York City Marathon runner dies after collapsing in Central Park with just two miles to goA 24-year-old former college field hockey player collapsed and died along the final stretch of Sunday's New York City Marathon, the New York Road Runners confirmed.Daily Mail Sport · 3 Nov, 05:48

In this story: Rachel Apa · Steve Apa · Michelle Apa · Michaela Nicholas · New York City Marathon · Bucknell University · Mount Sinai Medical Center · Central Park

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log