A 24-year-old former college athlete who appeared to be in excellent health has died after suddenly collapsing just two miles from the finish line of the New York City Marathon, turning a deeply personal tribute to her late grandfather into an unimaginable tragedy.
Rachel Apa, of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, was competing in her first marathon on Sunday, November 1, after spending months preparing for the grueling 26.2-mile race. The former Bucknell University field hockey player was running to raise money for Parkinson’s disease research in memory of her grandfather, who died from the illness in 2022.
“My grandfather was one of my role models growing up,” Apa wrote in a fundraising message before the race. She credited him with teaching her to stay active, challenge herself and embrace life’s obstacles.
Her parents, Steve and Michelle Apa, were following their daughter’s progress throughout the race, cheering her on as she made her way through New York City’s five boroughs.
At Mile 14, Michelle captured a video of Rachel smiling as she continued toward the finish line. But just a few miles later, the young runner began sending troubling messages to her father.
At Mile 18, she texted him a single word: “Ow.”
One mile later, another message arrived: “Ow, ow.”
Despite the apparent pain, Rachel pressed forward. By Mile 23, she seemed determined to complete the race, sending her father an encouraging update: “final stretch.”
It would be one of her final communications.
Shortly afterward, Rachel collapsed in Central Park near Mile 24, less than two miles from completing the marathon. Bystanders rushed to help, with medical professionals performing CPR before race medical personnel took over and used a defibrillator.
Paramedics transported her to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where doctors spent hours trying to save her life. She was pronounced dead at approximately 9:40 p.m. Sunday.
Her devastated father told The New York Times that Rachel had been in “perfect health, perfect shape” before the race.
He said doctors attributed her death to rhabdomyolysis, a potentially life-threatening condition in which damaged muscle tissue breaks down rapidly, releasing substances into the bloodstream that can overwhelm the kidneys and cause serious complications. Although intense physical exertion can trigger the condition, New York City’s medical examiner had not officially determined Rachel’s cause of death as of Tuesday.
The loss has stunned the running community, particularly given Rachel’s athletic background. In addition to playing Division I field hockey at Bucknell, she had recently begun pursuing a master’s degree in business administration at Charleston Southern University.
New York Road Runners, which organizes the annual marathon, expressed its condolences to Rachel’s family and friends, saying the organization was deeply saddened by her death.
Race officials confirmed that the last death following a medical incident at the New York City Marathon occurred in 2024.
Rachel had entered the race with a goal that extended far beyond crossing the finish line. Through the Parkinson’s Foundation Champions program, she had raised thousands of dollars to support research and honor the grandfather who helped inspire her love of sports.
Instead of celebrating her first marathon finish, her family is now mourning a young woman whose determination, athletic achievements and devotion to her loved ones had already made them proud.
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