NYC Marathon runner Rachel Apa was lifelong athlete, ‘always on the go’ before dying from rhabdomyolysis

Rachel Apa, 24, died after collapsing during the New York City Marathon, which she was running for the first time. Her family and former teammates remembered her as an energetic lifelong athlete who balanced full-time remote work with studying for an MBA.

Apa collapsed near Mile 24 on the final stretch through Central Park; the article reports that she died from rhabdomyolysis. She played field hockey for four years at Bucknell, scoring 17 goals and earning Academic All-Patriot League honours, after nine years with Central Penn Field Hockey Club. She was also raising money for the Parkinson’s Foundation in memory of her grandfather: donations surpassed $20,000, against a $4,000 target.