Keith McLeod of the Dailyrecord reports about three Eritrean runners scooping to the top prizes in a road race – despite running a kilometre more than all the other competitors.
A stewarding error meant that runners Tsegezeah Woldemichael, Tewoldcebrhan Mengisteab and Tsegai Tewelde continued straight on instead of taking a turn in Carluke, Lanarkshire.
But, incredibly, all three athletes recovered after being redirected on to the correct route. And they finished a full two minutes ahead of the fourth-placed runner.
Race organisers said the Eritreans – who are members of Shettleston Harriers athletics club in Glasgow – ran so fast that stewards were not in place to guide them on to the right route.
The remarkable performances came in the Carluke Development Trust 10k road race. Trust chairman Tom Sneddon said: “It was a fantastic performance by the three of them.
“They ran at a blistering pace. It was our fault that they took a wrong turning because a steward didn’t get there soon enough.
“We’re sorry about it but at least we were able to catch them at the Crown Hotel and get them back on the right track.”
Woldemichael’s winning time of 33min 49sec was two seconds ahead of second-placed Mengisteab, with Tewelde a further 22 seconds back.
The top three won cash prizes of £100, £75 and £50, with organisers also giving the winner an extra £100 – as he would have broken the course record had he not taken a wrong turn.
One hundred runners took part in the 10k event, starting and finishing at Loch Park Stadium in Shieldhill Road.
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