Young Runner Dies After Collapse at NYC Marathon
Runners training for long races should take warning signs seriously, even at a young age.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Running
Rachel Apa, 24, collapsed near the 24-mile mark of the New York City Marathon in Central Park on November 1 and later died at a hospital. She had been running as part of the Parkinson's Foundation Champions team, and her fundraiser has drawn more than $21,000 in donations, well above her $4,000 goal.
Why it matters
For runners in New York City and beyond, the death of a young athlete during a major race is a sharp reminder that marathon participation carries real risk regardless of age. The cause of death has not yet been determined by the medical examiner, so the event is a prompt to take cardiac and fitness concerns seriously rather than assume younger runners are exempt.
This is a single race-day incident, so no study design or sample size applies. The reported facts are Apa's age of 24, the collapse at roughly mile 24 of the 26.2-mile course, and fundraising totals of more than $21,000 against a $4,000 goal, but the cause of death remains undetermined.
The players
Parkinson's Foundation
A nonprofit that funds Parkinson's disease research, care, and education, and that sponsors fundraising teams in major marathons.
Bucknell University
A private university in Pennsylvania, Apa's alma mater, where she graduated in 2024 after playing Division I field hockey.
The details
Apa ran the November 1 marathon in Central Park as part of the Parkinson's Foundation Champions team, raising money in memory of her grandfather, who died of Parkinson's disease in 2022. She collapsed near the 24-mile mark, just over two miles from the finish line, and emergency responders took her to a hospital where she died. Her cause of death is still pending the medical examiner's determination, so no conclusions can be drawn yet about what caused the collapse.
Timeline
2022: Apa's grandfather died of Parkinson's disease, the inspiration for her fundraising.
2024: Apa graduated from Bucknell University, where she had played Division I field hockey.
November 1, 2026: Apa collapsed during the New York City Marathon.
November 3, 2026: Her fundraiser surpassed $21,000 while the medical examiner's cause-of-death determination was still pending.
Health Landscape
Charity teams like the Parkinson's Foundation Champions program have become a major route into marathon running, pairing fundraising goals with race entry. Apa's death is a rare, high-profile reminder that the physical demands of a 26.2-mile course apply to young athletes too, not only to older or first-time runners.
If you are training for a long race, it is worth asking your doctor about a pre-training cardiac check, especially if you have a family history of heart problems or unexplained fainting or chest discomfort during exertion. Pay attention to warning signs like chest pain, lightheadedness, or unusual shortness of breath, and do not push through them on race day.
The takeaway
Marathon training can be demanding for runners of any age, and this loss is a reminder to take symptoms seriously. Talk with your physician before a long race about whether screening or a cardiac evaluation makes sense for you.
Further reading
For more on the training and safety side of race day, explore our Running coverage.
