KANYAN MARATHONER MISSED OUT ON A CHANCE TO BREAK THE STOCKHOLM MARATHON RECORD
Kenyan Marathoner Wins Race Despite Running Extra 1.1km in The Wrong Direction. Felix Kirwa narrowly missed out on a chance to break the Stockholm Marathon record after he ran in the wrong direction.
Kenyan long-distance runner Felix Kirwa reigned supreme during the 40th edition of the Stockholm Marathon held on Saturday, June 4, in Stockholm, Sweden.
Kirwa had to overcome stiff competition from Tesfaye Lencho Anbesa and Merhawi Keste to win the race.
However, the race was marred with confusion as the leading pack of three which included Kirwa, Anbesa, and Keste ran in the wrong direction.
According to The Sun, the three were initially pointed in the wrong direction to run in the marathon before the mistake was corrected.
But another mistake followed soon after as a lack of signs saw the lead pack run straight on when they should have turned.
They are understood to have realised the mistake after running for a full minute and covering about 1.1km.
Felix Kirwa misses out on chance to break record
While the rest of the pack was unable to find their footing after the blunder, Kirwa athletics.co.ke reports that the 26-year-old managed to come back and win the event in a time of 2 hours, 11 minutes, and seven seconds.
However, the extra minute which he ran in the wrong direction denied him a golden chance to of breaking the record for the marathon which stands at 2:10:10 – just 57 seconds less than the time posted by Kirwa.
Speaking after the event, the Kenyan marathoner said he was happy finishing top despite taking the wrong turn.
“I am very happy to win the Stockholm marathon. But we ran wrong and we missed the record because of it,” he told TV4.
Kesete, meanwhile, had to settle for a second-place finish, with Tesfay missing out on a podium as he finished fourth.
