Marathon runner cruises to third place … because he took the bus
Oct 12, 2011, 10:06 AM EDT
The first clue that Rob Sloan’s third-place marathon finish wasn’t on the up-and-up was when a number of witnesses claimed they saw him boarding a crosstown bus. In the middle of the race. Hmmm (flips through rulebook).
It happened at the Kielder Marathon in Britain on Sunday, when Sloan was called before race officials and asked to see his registration form, and his bus pass.
He “categorically denied” not completing the 26.2 mile course telling organisers: “I ran the whole race” in a statement yesterday.
But the runner, who just 24 hours earlier had won a 10k race, was spotted by a number of witnesses, and organisers were left with no alternative but to disqualify him after the event in Kielder, Northumberland.
He has now admitted his guilt.
Suspicions were raised after a number of runners reported being bemused by Sloan’s position after they failed to see him pass them during the race.
Race officials then issued a statement, saying in part:
We are pleased this matter has been cleared up. Mr. Sloan made a mistake and has apologised to us for the confusion it has caused.
Can this really be called a mistake? And where did he come up with correct change?
Possible Sloan quote: “I would have won if that kid hadn’t pulled the cord at every stop.”
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Marathon runner bagged third place … by taking the bus [London Sun]
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- dlweld - Oct 12, 2011 at 1:32 PM
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Oh come on, it was a mistake, we have all done it, running along and then accidently run onto a bus without realising it, it happens all of the time.
Still, not a good ad for British busses – “take the bus and come in third in any marathon in town!”
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- umrguy42 - Oct 13, 2011 at 4:24 PM
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Actually, that sounds about right – Top Gear did a challenge, with car, bicycle, powerboat, and public transportation being used to go from one side of London to the other, with the bike winning, followed closely by the boat, then public transport, and the car dead last. So, yeah, third is dead on :p
