The sudden death of a 17-year-old Staten Island high school track star was caused by the accidental overuse of an over-the-counter remedy routinely used by millions of Americans to treat sore muscles and joints, the New York City medical examiner ruled after a two-month investigation.

The athlete, Arielle Newman, a cross-country runner at Notre Dame Academy on Staten Island, died after her body absorbed high levels of methyl salicylate, an anti-inflammatory found in sports creams like Bengay and Icy Hot, the medical examiner said Friday.

The medical examiner’s spokeswoman, Ellen Borakove, said the teenager used “topical medication to excess.”

She said it was the first time that the office had reported a death from use of a sports cream.

Ms. Newman, who garnered numerous track awards, died on April 3.