Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old Pennsylvania woman, died after collapsing approximately two miles from the finish line of the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1. The former college athlete was participating in her first marathon, running in memory of her grandfather, who died from Parkinson’s disease in 2022.
Apa, of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, was running with the Parkinson’s Champions team to honor her grandfather and raise awareness of the disease. She had trained for months in preparation for the race and had previously played field hockey at Bucknell University. Her father, Steve Apa, described his daughter as exceptionally healthy and physically fit, making her sudden death especially difficult for the family to comprehend.
During the race, Apa remained in contact with her parents, who were following her progress. Her mother captured video of her smiling at mile 14, but later messages to her father indicated she was experiencing pain. She collapsed in Central Park near mile 24, prompting emergency assistance from a bystander and race medical personnel, who performed resuscitation efforts before she was transported to Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Apa was pronounced dead later that evening. Her father told reporters that her death was attributed to rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition involving the breakdown of muscle tissue that can occur following extreme physical exertion. An independently confirmed medical determination has not been publicly established.
New York Road Runners, which organizes the marathon, expressed condolences to Apa’s family. Her death cast a shadow over an event that brought tens of thousands of runners to New York City, many participating to support charitable causes or honor loved ones. For Apa’s family, the race was meant to celebrate the memory of a beloved grandfather and a young woman’s determination to accomplish something meaningful.
