Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old runner in the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, died on Sunday, November 1, after collapsing roughly two miles from the finish line. While the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and race organizers have not yet released a final determination, the runner's father, Steve Apa, stated that the cause of death was rhabdomyolysis.
Apa, a graduate of Bucknell University and a former collegiate field hockey player, was running for the Parkinson’s Champions team in memory of her late grandfather. Her father reported that she had trained for months and was in healthy physical condition prior to the race. During the event, she sent text messages to her father at miles 18 and 19 indicating she was in pain.
Around 1:30 p.m. at mile 24 in Central Park, Apa collapsed. A bystander, Michaela Nicholas, reported that she could not find a pulse and performed CPR along with two others until New York Road Runners (NYRR) medical staff took over with a defibrillator. Apa was transported to a Mount Sinai hospital where she was treated for over six hours before being pronounced dead at 9:40 p.m.
Rhabdomyolysis is a rare but life-threatening condition where damaged muscle tissue breaks down and releases proteins and electrolytes into the bloodstream. According to the Cleveland Clinic, approximately 26,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with the condition annually. While it is often associated with drug use or toxins, it can be triggered by extreme physical exertion, especially when combined with dehydration, heat, or illness.
Athletes may notice symptoms including severe muscle pain, weakness, and dark-colored urine that resembles tea or cola, typically appearing within one to three days of exertion. For those who develop these symptoms, immediate emergency treatment involving intravenous fluids is required to prevent permanent organ damage. Severe cases may result in the need for dialysis if the kidneys fail or if chemical imbalances in the blood remain uncorrected. Medical professionals generally advise that even those who recover without complications may need to refrain from physical activity for several weeks or months.
The death of a participant in a major athletic event often prompts reviews of safety protocols and medical response times. NYRR reported that the last runner death during the New York City Marathon occurred in 2024. As of November 3, 2026, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not provided a date for when the final autopsy results will be released. The Parkinson’s Foundation and Bucknell University have issued statements of sympathy to the family.