Rachel Apa and the 2026 New York City Marathon Tragedy
Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old resident of Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, collapsed in Central Park just over two miles from the finish line during the New York City Marathon, later dying, according to the New York Police Department.
The tragedy unfolded on Sunday as the marathon marked 50 years in its five-borough format. Apa, participating in her first 26.2-mile race, was approaching the 24-mile mark when she collapsed. Her father, Steve Apa, told The New York Times that his daughter had been stricken with rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition in which muscles can break down during exertion, poisoning the body.
Event organizers and bystanders rushed to aid the first-time marathoner. New York Road Runners, the nonprofit club that stages the race, stated in a news release that a bystander administered CPR immediately after the collapse. Event medical staffers followed with additional CPR and the use of a defibrillator before paramedics arrived to transport Apa to a hospital, where she could not be saved.
Donations Surge Past Goal After Runner Honors Grandfather
Apa had taken on the course to raise money for Parkinson’s disease in honor of her grandfather. On her fundraising page for the “Parkinson’s Champions” program sponsored by the Parkinson’s Foundation, she wrote that her grandfather, who had Parkinson’s disease and died in 2022, had taught her to stay active, push her limits, and embrace challenges.
As news of her passing spread on Tuesday, donations surged past her $4,000 goal. Outside of her athletic pursuits, Apa worked for TE Connectivity, which makes various electrical components and electronics. She was also a graduate of Bucknell University, where she earned a degree in markets, innovation, and design in 2024 and scored 17 goals for the school’s field hockey team.
Michaela Nicholas, a hospital social worker watching the race, witnessed the emergency unfold after cheering for runners by name from their bibs. Nicholas recalled calling out encouragement just before Apa collapsed roughly 15 yards (14 meters) further along the route.
I just held Rachel’s hand and talked to her and told her that she wasn’t alone and that she’s loved, and I prayed for her.
Tributes followed from athletic and academic institutions. USA Field Hockey shared on social media that Apa’s impact on the sport and those around her would not be forgotten. New York Road Runners expressed deep sorrow over her passing, extending sincere sympathies to her family, friends, and the broader running community as a record 61,000 runners ultimately reached the finish line.
