A 24-year-old former Bucknell University field hockey player died after collapsing roughly two miles from the finish line of Sunday's New York City Marathon, according to TMZ.com, which cited reporting by The New York Times.
Rachel Apa was competing in her first marathon as a member of the Parkinson's Champions team, a tribute to her late grandfather, who died from Parkinson's disease in 2022.
As Apa approached the finish, she suddenly went down. A hospital social worker who was spectating rushed to administer CPR alongside Apa's fiancée, according to The New York Times. Their efforts were unsuccessful.
Steve Apa, her father, told The New York Times that his daughter had spent months preparing for the 26-plus mile race and was in "perfect health, perfect shape."
Steve Apa followed his daughter's progress through the marathon app, and her mother, Michelle, recorded video of her at the 14th mile mark, where she appeared to be "beaming," according to The New York Times.
Apa sent two text messages to her father reading "Ow" at the 18th and 19th miles. He replied at the 23rd mile with "Final stretch." No response ever came, The New York Times reported.
Apa was 24 years old.