Advertisement

• Home
• Where to run
  Running courses Hotel running maps GPS tracks Running calendars Running challenges
• Sections
  Running articles Running Top 10 Running in cold weather Running in hot weather Running with your dog Safety for runners Running nutrition Running shoes Running news True running stories Running fiction Running software Running books Running illustrations Running history Products reviews Hiking articles
• Humor
  Funny articles The Perfect Bunion Skewed Running Running cartoons Running jokes Funny videoclips
• Community
  Running in different cultures Running communities Worldwide Runners Disaster Response Team
• Wiki
  Running Wiki Disclaimer for user-generated content
• About
  Customer service Subscribe Job opportunities Join our network
• More...

Runner disqualified for winning the wrong race

BRISTOL, UK — The Bristol half marathon (21km) took place alongside the Bristol 10k in the Great Bristol Run on Sunday. Omar Ahmed had originally signed up to run the 10k but ended up accidentally running - and winning - the half marathon in just 63 minutes. Mr Ahmed went the wrong way when he reached the point where the course diverged for the two distances. The revised men's positions confirmed Chris Thompson, of Aldershot, Farnham and District Athletics Club, as the new winner with a time of 67 minutes.

The Great Run Company said Mr Ahmed, whose first name was spelt incorrectly on his race number, entered the 10k as an elite runner and not the half marathon, therefore he was not officially part of the half marathon race, and would "unfortunately" be disqualified. It said while Mr Ahmed had put in "an impressive performance", it had received objections from other athletes and a subsequent investigation took place, resulting in the disqualification.

Paul Foster, chief executive of The Great Run Company, added: "Rules are rules and in this case they say we have to disqualify Omar. We salute his performance, and he has been invited to take part in next week's Great Manchester Run as an elite athlete. Of course, we also look forward to welcoming him back to Bristol for 2022's Great Bristol Run."

The Bristol 10k is normally held in the spring and the half marathon at the end of the summer, but last year both races were cancelled because of Covid-19. In this year's events runners took on various routes covering the city centre, harbourside and Avon Gorge.

Credits - This true article, "Bristol half marathon winner disqualified after running wrong race", was published on BBC News.

True running stories - A growing collection of incredible, bizarre, and unusual stories from the world of running. Prepared to be shocked at what we uncover when it comes to strange news, first-hand accounts, headlines, and reports from running around the world.