News | New York
Published November 3, 2026 6 min read
Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old first-time runner, died after collapsing in Central Park about two miles from the finish line of the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1, 2026. She was running for the Parkinson's Foundation Champions team in memory of her grandfather, who died of Parkinson's disease in 2022.
Apa was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where doctors fought to save her for about six hours. She was pronounced dead at 9:40 p.m., her father, Steve Apa, told The New York Times, according to multiple reports. He said doctors told the family she died from rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition in which muscle tissue breaks down rapidly.
- Rachel Apa, 24, collapsed about two miles from the finish of her first marathon and died that night at Mount Sinai.
- Her father says she died from rhabdomyolysis. No separate official finding was found in the reports we reviewed.
- New York Road Runners said she was the first participant to die during the race since 2024.
- She was fundraising for Parkinson's research in memory of her grandfather.
This is a sensitive story. We have limited this report to what has been confirmed by her family and race organizers and have avoided speculation.
What happened
Apa had trained for months for the 26.2-mile race, according to her family. Her mother, Michelle, was in New York to support her and recorded video of a smiling Apa at Mile 14 in Queens. Her father followed her progress through the race tracking app and exchanged text messages with her from their home in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania.
Mile 14: Smiling in a video recorded by her mother in Queens.
Mile 18: Texts her father one word: "Ow."
Mile 19: Texts again: "Ow ow."
Mile 23: A "final stretch" message is exchanged. It was the last one. Accounts differ on whether Apa or her father sent it.
About two miles from the finish: Collapses in Central Park.
9:40 p.m.: Pronounced dead at Mount Sinai.
Bystanders began CPR. Reports mention two doctors among the spectators who took turns, and a hospital social worker, Michaela Nicholas, who ran over and held Apa's hand so she would know she was not alone. Marathon medical staff arrived with a defibrillator, and she was taken to hospital.
Her father, who described his daughter as being in "perfect health, perfect shape," called the loss "unfathomable."
Who was Rachel Apa?
Apa was a Bucknell University graduate who played field hockey for the school. She worked as a product manager at an electrical components company and was pursuing an MBA at Charleston Southern University, according to reports.
She wrote in her fundraising page that her grandfather was her role model, who taught her to stay active, push limits and embrace challenges. Her marathon run was part of raising money for the Parkinson's Foundation.
What organizers said
New York Road Runners, which organizes the race, said it was "deeply saddened" by the death of one of its runners and offered sympathies to her family, friends and the running community. The group said it was the first death of a participant during the marathon since 2024.
The 2026 race drew a record 61,146 finishers, according to reports.
What is rhabdomyolysis?
Rhabdomyolysis is a rare condition in which damaged skeletal muscle breaks down rapidly and releases harmful substances into the bloodstream. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it can be life-threatening and is uncommon, affecting about 26,000 people in the United States each year.
- Causes: It can follow overexertion, injury, certain medications or an underlying health condition.
- Common signs: Muscle pain, weakness or swelling, and dark, tea- or cola-colored urine. Medical sources note that dark urine is not always present.
- Why it is serious: The substances released from muscle can damage the kidneys.
When to seek help. Medical guidance says severe or unusual muscle pain, weakness or swelling, especially with dark urine or little urine, after strenuous exercise needs urgent medical attention. This is general information, not medical advice, and it does not explain what happened in this case. If you are concerned about your health, speak to a doctor or call emergency services.
What we do not know
- Whether a medical examiner or hospital has issued a formal determination of cause beyond what her father has said.
- What, if anything, contributed to the condition. Her family has said she was healthy and well prepared.
- Whether race organizers will review their medical response, and whether any funeral or fundraising details will be announced.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Rachel Apa?
A 24-year-old former Bucknell University field hockey player who died after collapsing during the 2026 New York City Marathon, her first. She was running for the Parkinson's Foundation Champions team.
When and where did Rachel Apa collapse?
On Sunday, November 1, 2026, in Central Park, about two miles from the marathon finish line.
What caused Rachel Apa's death?
Her father told The New York Times she died from rhabdomyolysis, a condition in which muscle tissue breaks down. We found no separate official finding in the reports reviewed.
What did New York Road Runners say?
The organization said it was deeply saddened by the death of one of its runners and offered its sympathies. It said she was the first participant to die during the marathon since 2024.
Why was Rachel Apa running the marathon?
She was raising money for the Parkinson's Foundation in memory of her grandfather, who died of Parkinson's disease in 2022.
What is rhabdomyolysis?
A rare, serious condition in which muscle breaks down rapidly and releases harmful substances that can damage the kidneys. The Cleveland Clinic estimates about 26,000 cases a year in the United States.
Sources: The New York Times (as reported by other outlets), New York Post, Daily Mail, Gulf News, International Business Times Singapore, Cleveland Clinic. Details are attributed to the family, race organizers and the outlets named and may be updated. Unverified obituary and social-media sites were not used.
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