A 24-year-old woman who spent months training for her first New York City Marathon tragically died just two miles from the finish line, moments after sending her father a series of troubling messages about the pain she was experiencing.
Rachel Apa, a former college athlete from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, collapsed in Central Park during Sunday’s race, turning what was supposed to be one of the proudest moments of her life into an unimaginable nightmare for her family.
Her father, Steve Apa, told The New York Times that his daughter had been in excellent physical condition and showed no warning signs of serious health problems before the November 1 event.
“It’s unfathomable,” he said. “Perfect health, perfect shape, 24 years old.”
Rachel had been running to raise money for Parkinson’s disease research in memory of her beloved grandfather, who died from the illness in 2022. Her mother, Michelle Apa, traveled to New York to cheer her on, while her father followed her progress from home using the marathon’s tracking app.
At mile 14, everything appeared to be going according to plan. Michelle captured a video of her daughter smiling as she made her way through the course in light green running clothes, seemingly enjoying the experience she had worked so hard to prepare for.
But just four miles later, Rachel sent her father a concerning text: “Ow.”
At mile 19, another message followed: “Ow, Ow.”
Despite the apparent discomfort, Rachel continued running. When her father saw that she had reached mile 23, he sent another encouraging message, telling her she was in the final stretch.
This time, there was no response.
Shortly after 1:30 p.m., Rachel suddenly collapsed near mile 24 in Central Park, less than three miles from completing the grueling 26.2-mile course.
Spectators immediately rushed to help, with several Good Samaritans performing CPR before race medical personnel arrived and used a defibrillator. Paramedics transported Rachel to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where doctors spent hours fighting to save her life.
Meanwhile, her mother noticed that Rachel’s location had stopped moving on the tracking app and went searching for her daughter. She reached the area just as an ambulance was leaving with Rachel inside.
Despite the medical team’s efforts, Rachel was pronounced dead around 9:40 p.m.
Her father said doctors attributed her death to rhabdomyolysis, a potentially life-threatening condition in which damaged muscle tissue breaks down and releases substances into the bloodstream. Extreme physical exertion can trigger the condition, which may cause kidney damage and other serious complications.
However, New York City’s medical examiner said Tuesday that Rachel’s official cause of death had not yet been determined and remained under investigation.
New York Road Runners, which organizes the marathon, expressed its condolences to the grieving family, confirming that a bystander began CPR before race medical personnel took over. The organization said the last marathon participant to die following a medical emergency was in 2024.
Rachel had graduated from Bucknell University in 2024, where she played Division I field hockey for four years. She was also pursuing an MBA at Charleston Southern University while working full-time.
Her first marathon was about much more than crossing a finish line. She had joined the Parkinson’s Foundation Champions team to honor her grandfather, whose struggle with the disease left a lasting impact on her.
“My grandfather was my role model growing up,” she wrote on her fundraising page. She credited him with teaching her to stay active, embrace challenges and develop her love of sports.
Watching him gradually lose his ability to move freely inspired Rachel to raise money for research and better treatment options for others living with Parkinson’s.
Her fundraiser surpassed its original $4,000 goal, with additional donations pouring in after news of her death.
The tragedy cast a shadow over an otherwise historic marathon. A record-breaking 61,146 runners completed the race, making it the largest marathon ever recorded.
But for Rachel’s devastated family, the event will forever be remembered for the heartbreaking final miles of a young woman’s life — and a finish line she never got to cross.
