Unexpected finish in Beijing marathon triggers investigation
A surprising situation occurred during a half marathon in Beijing. Towards the finish, four competitors were battling for victory, but three of them had no intention of winning. The Africans decided to assist He Jie, a Chinese runner, in crossing the finish line first. The appropriate authority is already investigating this matter, and Willy Mnangat decided to explain his actions regarding the incident.
16 April 2024 19:51
On Sunday, 15th April, a half-marathon took place on the streets of Beijing, causing quite a stir. The controversy stemmed from the competition's conclusion, when unexpected scenes unfolded.
In a recording that circulated on social media, four competitors were seen fighting for the final victory, and only three of them did not intend to finish before He Jie, the host representative.
Kenyan runners Willy Mnangat and Robert Keter, along with Ethiopian Dejene Hailu, were more supportive of the Chinese competitor than actual opponents. This was evident in images where the Africans were seen signalling with their hands for him to speed up and pass them.
This led to a sensational victory for He Jie, who finished the race in 1 hour, 3 minutes, and 44 seconds. Mnangat and Keter were on the podium, with Hailu finishing just behind them.
The British newspaper Daily Mail reports that the end of the competition has caught the attention of The Beijing Sports Bureau, which has launched an investigation into the potential fixing of results.
In response, Mnangat explained his participation. He admitted that he did not come to China to compete but rather to help the Chinese runner attempt to break the national record.
- I don't know why my name was on the bib number. I didn't come here to compete. My role was to pace and help the guy (He Jie - ed.) win, but unfortunately, he did not manage to beat the national record - said the Kenyan.
