A 24-year-old Pennsylvania runner died after collapsing near mile 24 of the New York City Marathon on Sunday.

Rachel Apa of Lewisberry collapsed in Central Park around 1:30 p.m. while approaching the 24-mile mark of the 26.2-mile race. Bystanders performed CPR before event medical staff arrived and used a defibrillator. Paramedics took her to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead around 9:40 p.m.

Apa was running her first marathon with the Parkinson's Foundation Champions team to raise money in honor of her grandfather, who died from the disease in 2022. She had trained for months and was described by her father, Steve Apa, as being in "perfect health, perfect shape." She previously played Division I field hockey at Bucknell University and had recently started an MBA program at Charleston Southern University.

Her father told The New York Times that she died from rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition in which muscle tissue breaks down and releases harmful substances into the bloodstream. The New York City medical examiner's office said Tuesday that it is still investigating the cause of death.

Apa texted her father messages of discomfort around miles 18 and 19 before sending "final stretch" near mile 23. Her mother waited for her near mile 25.

New York Road Runners, the event organizer, expressed condolences to the family. Marathon deaths remain extremely rare despite the event's scale, which drew a record number of finishers this year.

The incident occurred as the five-borough format marked its 50th anniversary.