24-Year-Old Runner Dies from Rhabdomyolysis at NYC Marathon

Rachel Apa, 24, of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, collapsed in Central Park approximately 2 miles from the finish line of the New York City Marathon on November 1, 2026, and died later that evening at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Her father, Steve Apa, confirmed that she died from rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition in which muscles break down rapidly during intense exertion, releasing toxic components into the bloodstream that can cause kidney damage, heart complications, and organ failure.

Apa was running her first marathon as part of the Parkinson's Champions team to raise funds for Parkinson's disease research in honor of her late grandfather, who died from the disease in 2022. Her mother, Michelle, was tracking her progress at the race; she had filmed Rachel smiling at mile 14, but Rachel later texted her father "Ow" at mile 18 and "Ow, ow" at mile 19. At mile 23, Rachel texted "final stretch," but collapsed shortly thereafter in Central Park.

Bystanders, including hospital social worker Michaela Nicholas, immediately administered CPR. Race medical staff then used a defibrillator before paramedics transported Apa to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where doctors worked for several hours to save her. She died at 9:40 p.m. Her father described the death as "unfathomable." Apa was a former Division I field hockey player at Bucknell University, a product manager for an electrical component company, and had recently begun a master's degree program at Charleston Southern University. Her father told the New York Times that she had been in "perfect health, perfect shape."

The New York Road Runners, which organizes the marathon, said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened by Rachel's passing following running in Sunday's race. Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with her family, friends, and the entire running community." This was the first death from a medical incident at the NYC Marathon since 2024. The 2026 race, which marked 50 years of the marathon's five-borough format, set a world record for participation, with 61,146 finishers. Following news of Apa's death, donations to her Parkinson's Champions fundraising page quickly exceeded her original $4,000 goal.