Marathon organizers apologize after guide vehicle blocks runner in final sprint

Organizers of the Dalian Marathon in Liaoning province have apologized to a runner and the audience after one of its guiding vehicles went on the course and forced a runner to go around it during the final sprint of the competition on Sunday.

Live broadcast showed that near the end of the race, a pick-up truck that had led the race leaders along the course made a left turn to cross the course and appeared to be preparing for an exit after finishing its task. However, the truck's move blocked the course of runner Yin Shunjin, who was following the race leaders at several seconds behind.

Yin had to make a turn and go around the truck before returning onto the normal route. He finished the race about two minutes later at 2 hours, 11 minutes and 50 seconds, setting his personal best and becoming the fastest Chinese runner. Ethiopia's Zedat Abeje Ayana hit the finish line 27 seconds before Yin, claiming the race win.

The incident sparked outrage among running enthusiasts, who questioned the organizers' competence.

"Although it was unlikely for Yin to win, his result could be improved for at least 5 to 10 seconds had it not been the incident, as the truck disrupted his pace severely," a runner surnamed Cheng, who has participated in nearly 100 marathons, told Jimu News.

Organizers said they regretted the incident and apologized to Yin and the audience. They also said they would improve their management to avoid similar incidents from happening again.

Yin said he could do nothing but live with the result, but he hoped to be treated more fairly in the future.

The incident is under investigation by the Dalian Sports Bureau.

China has seen a growing number of cities holding marathons in recent years, as the sport gains popularity amid a nationwide campaign to promote fitness. However, there have been several instances of organizers lacking experience, leading to disruptions for athletes.

In 2018, a marathon in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, saw volunteers repeatedly trying to hand over a Chinese national flag to runner He Yinli, who was focusing on making the final sprints during an intense competition with Kenyan runner Ayantu Abera de Misse. The runner was disrupted and came to the finish line 5 seconds short of the Kenyan. The organizers later apologized.

The Dalian Marathon incident is a reminder of the importance of proper organization and safety measures for sporting events, especially those that involve large numbers of participants.