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Marathon Runner Rachel Apa Dies After Collapsing Near Finish Line
Confirmed
In Short: Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old former college field hockey player, collapsed and died during the New York City Marathon on Sunday, just over two miles from the finish line in Central Park.
Apa, who was running her first marathon, was participating to raise money for the Parkinson’s Foundation in honor of her grandfather, who died from Parkinson’s disease in 2022.
According to her father, Steve Apa, Rachel texted him 'Ow, ow' at mile 19 and 'Final stretch' at mile 23, before she collapsed.
The New York Road Runners organization expressed deep sadness over Apa's passing, stating, 'Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with her family, friends, and the entire running community.'
The New York City Marathon, which has been held since 1970, saw a record number of 61,146 finishers in 2026, marking the first year it exceeded 60,000 finishers.
What this adds
The marathon community and spectators expressed shock and grief over Apa's tragic death.
What's confirmed
- Apa, who previously played Division I field hockey at Bucknell University, was participating in the marathon to raise money for the Parkinson’s Foundation in honor of her grandfather, who died from Parkinson’s disease in 2022.
- A 24-year-old woman visiting New York City to run her first marathon collapsed and died less than three miles from the Central Park finish line, police sources said Tuesday.
- NEW YORK -- A young Pennsylvania woman running the New York City Marathon for the first time to raise money for charity collapsed in Central Park, just over 2 miles from the finish line, and later died.
- "It's unfathomable," her father told the Times.
- “Ow, ow,” Rachel said, spurring Steve to remind her to “go easy.” At mile 20, Steve said he texted again.
- “Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with the runner’s family, friends, and the entire running community,” the organization said in a statement to the Times.
- The New York Times reports Rachel Apa was running in her first marathon with her Parkinson’s Champions team to honor her late grandfather, who passed away from the disease in 2022.
- Rachel Apa cause of death: What is rhabdomyolysis?
- “It’s unfathomable,” Steve Apa told The New York Times.
- The runner, Rachel Apa, was competing in her first marathon when she collapsed near Mile 24 of the race.
- According to her fundraising page for the Parkinson's Foundation Champions team, Apa was running the marathon in honor of her grandfather, who died from Parkinson's disease in 2022.
- "We are deeply saddened by Rachel's passing. Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with her family, friends, and the entire running community."
What's still developing
- As his daughter approached the final few miles of the marathon, Steve continued sending her encouraging messages, including one at mile 23 that read “Final stretch.” Apa, however, never responded.
- The New York Times reported details from the runner's parents, Michelle and Steve Apa, on Monday.
- The runner's mother then headed toward the finish line, planning to wait for her daughter at mile 25 in Central Park.
- Apa was in Central Park, just over two miles away from finishing her very first marathon, when she suddenly fell to the ground around 1:30 p.m., according to officials.
- The Times says Steve was tracking his daughter’s movements using the marathon app, and Apa's mom, Michelle, shot a video of her when she arrived at the 14th mile mark -- and she was "beaming."
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- The 24-year-old Pennsylvanian, who played Division I field hockey at Bucknell University until 2023, texted “Ow ow” to her father Steve Apa when she was at mile 19, before collapsing at mile 24.
- Rachel Apa sent her father a worrying message moments before she collapsed The father of a 24-year-old runner who died after collapsing during the New York marathon said her death is 'unfathomable'.
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- "My fiancé immediately screamed for help, screamed for a doctor across the way and I ran to Rachel." Nicholas said a runner called 911 while doctors in the crowd rushed to help and began CPR after finding no pulse.
- New York Road Runners said CPR was first administered by a bystander before the organization's medical staff took over, continued CPR and used an automated external defibrillator.
- Rachel Apa, a former Division 1 field hockey player at Bucknell University who was living in Pennsylvania, was nearing the final stretch of Sunday's race when she collapsed suddenly on the course.