Finish line tape acts as a lasso in taking down half-marathon winner
Robert Mbithi, the Bath half-marathon winner, ran a course record but was tripped up by the tape as he crossed the finish line.
Robert Mbithi was clear of the field and had a chance to relax as he crossed the finish line at the Bath half-marathon more than three minutes ahead of second place. He was 16 seconds under the previous course record. The only thing between him and the finisher’s area was the winner’s tape.
Unfortunately, the tape proved to be race’s biggest obstacle it got tangled in Mbithi’s legs tripping him to the ground. Only one of the finishing line officials let go of the tape, the series of events reminiscent of a lasso takedown, as the Kenyan athlete won the race in 1:01:45.
According to Athletics Weekly, there were 12,700 runners out for the annual Bath half-marathon in England with tens of thousands of spectators out to watch runners complete the 21.1K distance.
The Telegraph reports that Mbithi was okay and in good spirits despite the fall.
Footage from the finish line can be seen below:
He may have just set the record for the fastest half-marathon in Bath's history, but Robert Mbithi was unable to avoid the pitfalls of the finishing tape:http://bit.ly/1U0sCXZ
Posted by ITV Westcountry on Monday, March 14, 2016
In addition to Mbithi’s course record on March 13, Athletics Weekly also reports that 63-year-old Marin Rees set a world record for his age group (M60) crossing the line in 73:50.
Mbithi’s lifetime best for the half-marathon is 1:01:00, according to the IAAF.
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