24-Year-Old First-Time Marathoner Dies After Collapsing 2 Miles Before Central Park Finish Line

Former Division I college athlete, 24-year-old Rachel Apa died after collapsing on mile 24 of the New York City Marathon on Sunday. Apa was all smiles passing her mom at mile 14, last texted her family “Ow, Ow” at mile 19, but kept running. Apa’s mom was waiting for her again at mile 25, but she never made it. Apa was rushed to the hospital, but was pronounced dead later that night from a rare condition called rhabdomyolysis, where your muscles disintegrate and poison your blood. Her family says the 24-year-old was in “perfect health, perfect shape” and describe her death as “unfathomable.”

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.