Kenyan Runner Drops Out While Leading

China's Benson Mutiso took the lead at the 30km mark, but suddenly stopped, stood on the side of the road, and cheered on other athletes to pass at the 2024 Xiamen Marathon.

Mutiso (in white) in the middle was not wearing a pacer at the start of the Xiamen Marathon on January 7. Photo: C&D Xiamen Marathon — Mutiso (in white) in the middle was not wearing a pacer at the start of the Xiamen Marathon on January 7. Photo: *C&D Xiamen Marathon*

On the track in Xiamen, Fujian Province on January 7, Mutiso led by about 100m at the 30km mark. But the Kenyan runner suddenly slowed down, stood on the side of the road and turned to look at the runners behind him. He even clapped his hands, urging his competitors to pass, then continued to run behind the group of runners for about 3km before dropping out at the 33km mark.

Mutiso was later confirmed to compete as a pacer. But according to Canadian Running Magazine , Mutiso’s style of racing was still unusual, as pacers typically don’t run too far, run behind other runners, or try to win. Mutiso himself didn’t wear a pacer’s uniform.

Mutiso is a young Kenyan athlete who has only competed in one official marathon, finishing eighth in 2 hours and 19 minutes in Hannover, Germany in March 2023.

Kenyan Runner Drops Out While Leading — Mutiso proactively walked to the edge of the road, allowing other athletes to pass on the Xiamen race track on January 7.

Another surprise at the 2024 Xiamen Marathon was the withdrawal of former half marathon world record holder Kibiwott Kandie - a contender for the championship with a personal best (PB) of 2 hours 4 minutes 48 seconds at the 2023 Valencia Marathon. Kandie was said to have had problems with his sneakers , but still happily took a commemorative photo with former Xiamen Marathon champion Philimon Kipchumba at the 20km mark.

In the women's category, Ruti Aga - the Ethiopian runner who won the 2019 Tokyo Marathon - was one of the elites confirmed to compete. But she did not even go to Xiamen, but instead participated in the Dubai Marathon, also taking place on January 7, finishing second in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 9 seconds.

The Xiamen Marathon saw at least 30 cheating cases in 2010, with some runners carrying timing sensors or using public transportation. Organizers blamed this on Chinese students trying to score bonus points on the national college entrance exam.

The men's record for the Xiamen Marathon is held by Kenya's Moses Mosop in 2 hours 6 minutes 19 seconds, and by Ethiopia's Mare Dibaba in 2 hours 19 minutes 52 seconds, both set in 2015.

At this year's tournament, Ethiopian duo Asefa Boki Kebebe and Bekelech Gudeta won the men's and women's titles with times of 2 hours 6 minutes 46 seconds and 2 hours 22 minutes 54 seconds, respectively.

Hong Duy

Source link