A marathon runner was disqualified for receiving extra bottles: is it unfair?

Esteban Prado trained for months for the Orange County Marathon. He said BNC that he ran 100 miles per week over a period of 3 to 4 months. On race day, he broke the tape and crossed the finish line in 2:24:54. But less than an hour after his supposed victory, the 24-year-old received a phone call from race director Gary Kutscher.

Kutscher asked him to confirm or deny the news he received that Prado had received liquids and food from a person on a bicycle, which is against USA Track and Field Rules Numbers 144 and 241 – only “authorized persons” at official stations along the route. of course can provide liquids. And the fact that Prado received liquids from a person on a bicycle was another violation. “No official shall under any circumstances move near an athlete while he or she is taking refreshment or water,” the rules state. Also: “A competitor who collects refreshments elsewhere than at a refreshment point is liable to disqualification by the referee. »

He was disqualified and the runner-up, Jason Yang, who finished 17 seconds behind Prado, was named the official winner of the 2024 OC Marathon.

The situation pissed people off. Some said Prado cheated, while others felt it was an honest mistake and he shouldn’t be punished for it. However, while taking water from someone during a run might seem harmless enough, as Kutscher pointed out during a phone call with The world of runners, “The rules are there for a reason. We must ensure fairness to all those competing for these top spots. And I think we made the right decision.

To complicate matters, several participants took to social media to express their disappointment with the way the race was organized this year. Runners like Brandon, an Irvine man in his 30s, who said water stations along the course were unprepared.

“The aid station situation was good in the first half,” he said. The world of runners. “Sometimes there weren’t enough volunteers to hand out water, which was probably terrible for elite runners where every second counts.”

Brandon said he doesn’t remember seeing any official aid stations beyond mile 20, but after mile 23, “there were a lot of spectators handing out water.” However, while “that’s acceptable for someone just trying to get through the race,” he added, “I don’t understand how the elites were supposed to adhere to the rules in that situation unless they get lucky and bring their own water. »

Ann, another participant in her 30s, said she only saw one water station that had no water available. But “it seemed like they weren’t pouring out the cups fast enough to replace the ones grabbed by the runners,” she said. The world of runners.

Despite participants’ claims, it’s hard to ignore the video footage that shows Prado running right past an aid station. It was also later confirmed that not only did his father offer him water, but he also rode his bike alongside him for most of the race, following him and giving him coaching advice . It was an unfair advantage.

Kutscher said he didn’t think Prado was intentionally breaking the rules: “I don’t think that was his intention at all,” he said. “I don’t think he understood the rule. And I would have preferred him to just say that he didn’t understand the rules and that “I’m going to be a better runner because of this”, but he mentioned that the aid stations weren’t prepared and he even did a few statements against Jason, our first place winner, now, which I find unfortunate.

Regardless of who you believe in either situation, there is no doubt that a disqualification is an unfortunate thing. But the rules exist for a good reason: to maintain a level playing field and give every athlete an equal chance to win.

Ann, one of the OC Marathon participants, said she was happy when officials took the rules seriously. “As an amateur, I know they are in place for my health and safety on the course,” she said. “For the elites, I’m sure it’s also confidence in a fair race.”

Abby Carney is a writer and journalist in New York. A former D1 collegiate runner and current amateur track athlete, she has written about the culture and characters of running and outdoor sports for The world of runners, Like Wind magazine, The New York Times, and other outlets. She also writes about things that have nothing to do with running and was previously the editor of a food magazine.