New York City, New York: Marathon Runner Rachel Apa, 24, Dies After Collapsing in Central Park

A first marathon ended in tragedy in Central Park on Sunday. Rachel Apa, 24, collapsed at about 1:30 p.m. near mile 24 of the New York City Marathon, about two miles from the finish line. She was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where doctors worked for six hours to save her. She died at 9:40 p.m., her father, Steve Apa, told The New York Times.

Running for her grandfather

Apa was running her first marathon as part of the Parkinson's Champions team, in honor of her grandfather, who died from Parkinson's disease in 2022. She had trained for months for the 26.2 mile race. A former field hockey player at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, she had graduated from Bucknell and worked as a product manager at an electrical components company while pursuing an MBA at Charleston Southern University.

Her father told the Times she was in perfect health and perfect shape. Her family followed her on the marathon tracking app during the race. At mile 18 she texted "Ow," and a mile later she texted "Ow ow," according to the Times account reported by The Sun. Her father texted "Final stretch" when the app showed her at mile 23. She never answered. The app later showed she had stopped moving at mile 24.

Strangers tried to save her

Michaela Nicholas, a hospital social worker who was watching the race, ran to Apa after she collapsed and could not find a pulse, the Times reported. Nicholas held her hand so she would know she was not alone. Two doctors who were among the spectators took turns giving CPR. Medical staff from New York Road Runners, the race organizer, reached the scene with a defibrillator, the organizer said in a statement. Paramedics then took Apa by ambulance to Mount Sinai.

Her father said she died from rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition in which muscle tissue breaks down quickly and releases harmful substances into the bloodstream. The New York Post noted that about 26,000 people a year in the United States develop the condition, citing the Cleveland Clinic.

The organizer responds

"We are deeply saddened by the death of one of our runners following yesterday's race," New York Road Runners said in a statement. "Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with the runner's family, friends, and the entire running community." The organizer confirmed Apa was the first participant to die during the New York City Marathon since 2024.

Sunday's race was the largest marathon ever held. New York Road Runners said 61,146 runners finished, a world record for the third straight year, from 61,529 starters. Andreas Almgren of Sweden won the men's race and Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya won the women's race. For one family, the record day ended with a loss her father called unfathomable. "Perfect health, perfect shape, 24 years old," he told the Times.