Former Bucknell University field hockey player Rachel Apa, 24, died after collapsing during the New York City Marathon on Sunday, reportedly from rhabdomyolysis. Apa fell just over two miles from the finish line and was transported to a hospital, where she later died.
The incident occurred during the 2026 edition of the race. Apa was a former collegiate athlete who competed for Bucknell's field hockey program. Rhabdomyolysis, a condition caused by muscle breakdown that can lead to kidney failure, has been cited as the preliminary cause of death.
Race organizers and medical staff responded immediately when Apa collapsed near the 24-mile mark. The New York City Marathon, one of the world's major marathons, draws tens of thousands of participants annually.
