Rachel Apa, 24, Dies After Collapsing During New York City Marathon

Medical emergency near the finish

November 3, 2026 · 12:15 p.m. Central

Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old Pennsylvania woman running her first marathon in memory of her grandfather, died after collapsing in the final miles of Sunday’s New York City Marathon.

Apa experienced a medical emergency near the 24-mile marker in Central Park. A bystander performed CPR before race medical staff took over, and she was taken to a hospital, where she died, race organizer New York Road Runners told CBS New York.

Her father told NBC News that doctors attributed her death to rhabdomyolysis, a condition involving the breakdown of muscle tissue. The city medical examiner’s office, however, told CBS that it was investigating and had not determined an official cause of death.

Running in her grandfather’s memory

Apa was raising money for the Parkinson’s Foundation in honor of her grandfather, who had Parkinson’s disease, NBC reported. Her father followed her progress remotely, while her mother and friends watched along the route.

Bucknell University told CBS that Apa graduated in 2024 and had been a member of its field hockey team for four years. The university said its community mourned her death.

New York Road Runners expressed sympathy for Apa’s family, friends and the running community. The organizers told Runner’s World that the previous death following a medical incident at the race had occurred in 2024.

What is known about the diagnosis

Rhabdomyolysis occurs when damaged muscle breaks down and releases substances into the bloodstream; it can damage the kidneys and become life-threatening, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It has a range of possible causes, including injury and intense exercise.

That general explanation does not establish what happened in Apa’s case. Her father’s account describes what he said doctors told the family; the medical examiner’s official determination remains pending, according to CBS.

Where the emergency occurred

Reporting places the collapse near mile 24 in Central Park. The star marks an approximate central area of the park, not the exact location of the emergency.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors; event area: NBC News.

Key dates

1. 2024 — Apa graduated from Bucknell University, which said she was a four-year field hockey team member, CBS reported.
2. November 1, 2026 — Apa collapsed during the New York City Marathon and later died at a hospital, according to NBC.
3. November 3, 2026 — The medical examiner’s office told CBS the cause of death had not been determined.

Sources and visual credits

CBS New York · NBC News · Runner’s World · Cleveland Clinic.

Visual: conceptual editorial illustration of running shoes and a park; not a photograph of Apa or the marathon.