A former college athlete running her first marathon in honor of her late grandfather collapsed in Central Park, two miles from the finish line.
The running world is mourning Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old who died after collapsing in the closing stages of Sunday's New York City Marathon. Her father, Steve Apa, says she went down in Central Park, roughly two miles from the finish line.
It was Rachel's first marathon. She ran as part of the Parkinson's Champions team, raising awareness in honor of her late grandfather, who lived with the disease. Every one of those 26.2 miles carried a deeper meaning for her.
A former college athlete, Rachel was in what her family describes as perfect shape. Her father says she died from rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition in which muscle tissue breaks down and releases damaging proteins into the bloodstream. That cause comes from the family, and we have no further medical details.
Our thoughts are with Rachel's family, her friends, and everyone on the Parkinson's Champions team. She chased the finish line for someone she loved.
