24-year-old runner Rachel Apa dies after collapsing late in New York City Marathon

Rachel Apa, 24, collapsed in Central Park, two miles from the finish of Sunday’s New York City Marathon, and later died, her father said.

Steve Apa told the New York Times that his daughter died from rhabdomyolysis.

Rachel was running her first marathon as part of the Parkinson’s Champions team in honor of her late grandfather and was from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania; her parents were at the race cheering her on.

Michelle Apa filmed her daughter smiling at mile 14, the family said.

Her father, Steve Apa, said she had played field hockey at college and was in "perfect health, perfect shape." He added, "It’s unfathomable." Rachel had recently started an MBA at Charleston Southern University.

At mile 18 she texted her father "Ow" and a mile later sent "Ow, ow"; at the 23rd mile she texted "final stretch" and collapsed soon afterwards, the family said.

A member of the public performed CPR at the scene, race medical staff then used a defibrillator, and she was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center where doctors tried to save her but she died at 9.40pm.

The New York Road Runners said, "We are deeply saddened by the death of one of our runners following yesterday’s race," and added, "Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with the runner’s family, friends, and the entire running community." The organisation said the last time a participant in the race died from a medical incident was in 2024.