The former Bucknell field hockey player collapsed near Mile 24 of her first marathon while raising money in her grandfather’s memory.
NEW YORK CITY, NY — Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old Pennsylvania woman and former Division I athlete, died after collapsing near Mile 24 of the New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 1, about two miles from the finish line, according to police, race organizers and her family.
Apa was running her first marathon and raising money for the Parkinson’s Foundation in memory of her late grandfather. A bystander began CPR after she collapsed in Central Park, and New York Road Runners medical staff continued resuscitation efforts and used a defibrillator. Emergency medical workers took her to Mount Sinai Medical Center in critical condition, where she died later that night.
The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner was investigating Apa’s death Tuesday and had not announced an official cause. Her father, Steve Apa, told news organizations that doctors told the family she had suffered rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition in which damaged muscle tissue breaks down and releases substances into the bloodstream. The condition can occur after extreme physical exertion, but the medical examiner had not independently confirmed that finding as the official cause of death.
Apa, of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, had a long background in competitive sports. She played four years of field hockey at Bucknell University and graduated in 2024. Bucknell said the university community was mourning her death and offered condolences to those who knew her. She had also recently begun graduate studies while continuing to work full time.
Her father told NBC News that Apa appeared strong during the early stages of the 26.2-mile race. Her mother, Michelle Apa, watched her pass around Mile 14. Later, Rachel Apa sent messages to her father indicating that she was hurting. He continued following her progress through the marathon tracking system until her location stopped moving near Mile 24.
Her family and friends had been following her progress through the five boroughs as she attempted the distance for the first time. When the tracking information stopped updating, her mother went toward the location where Apa had last been recorded. Emergency workers had already taken her to the hospital by the time her mother reached the area.
New York Road Runners said a spectator was the first to administer CPR before race medical personnel took over. Medical workers also used an automated external defibrillator before paramedics transported Apa to the hospital. The organization said it was deeply saddened by her death and extended its sympathies to her family, friends and the running community.
Apa entered the race as part of the Parkinson’s Foundation Champions program. On her fundraising page, she described her grandfather as an important influence on her love of sports and physical activity. He had Parkinson’s disease, a neurological disorder that can progressively affect movement. Apa said she wanted her marathon effort to support research, care and greater awareness of the disease.
Her death drew particular attention because of her age and athletic history. Her father described her as healthy and active before the race. Rhabdomyolysis can affect athletes and other people after severe exertion or muscle injury, but reports of the condition alone do not establish Apa’s official cause of death. Authorities had not released findings Tuesday showing what factors may have contributed to the medical emergency.
The 2026 New York City Marathon drew tens of thousands of runners through all five boroughs before ending in Central Park. New York Road Runners said Apa’s death followed a medical emergency during the event. The organization said the last marathon participant to die after a race-related medical incident had been in 2024.
As of Tuesday, the medical examiner’s investigation remained pending. Apa’s family, university, race organizers and members of the running community were mourning her death while the official medical determination had yet to be released.
Author note: Last updated Nov. 3, 2026.