Marathon runner reaches the goal – and does not notice it

Curious scene at the World Athletics World Cup

Marathon runner reaches the goal – and does not notice it

Vanessa Wilson actually had the 42.195 kilometers through Tokyo – but after her finish, unusual scenes developed. The Australian herself later explains why.

The World Athletics World Cup in Tokyo has experienced a curious moment: Marathon runner Vanessa Wilson crossed the finish line in the Olympic Stadium of Japan’s capital after 2:39:17 hours-and just continued. A helper hurried to the career, the stadium spokesman called “stop” several times – only then Wilson finally stopped and realized at that moment: The 42.195 km long run through the Japanese capital has ended.

Reason for the scene: The 43-year-old Australian had apparently not noticed the goal of the marathon route at the World Athletics World Cup. “I didn’t see the finish line at all,” Wilson confirmed in an interview with the “Bild”. And explained to the boulevard leaf: “I didn’t hear the stadium spokesman either – I was so stunned by the heat. I just thought I would have to continue.”

The great misunderstanding has a special background: the unusual conditions at the finish. Because marathon runners usually achieve the goal at major events on a closed road with a large archway and clearly marked target area. A finish in the stadium is rather unusual.

“I had expected something spectacular, a target corridor or something,” Wilson confirmed. “My last marathon was in Berlin – and of course it is a huge spectacle when you run into the finish. You know: Now it’s over. And here it is just a line. I was not prepared for that at all.”

Wilson had nothing to do with the victory, she took 38th place with her best time. Peres Jepchirchir won the race at the top. The 31-year-old Kenyaner prevailed in 2:24:43 hours just ahead of Ethiopian Tigst Asefa (28/2: 24: 45) and won the World Cup title. Bronze surprisingly went to Julia Paternian from Uruguay, who finished after 2:27:23 hours. Already in 2021, Jepchirchir had won gold at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.