New Twist as Kenyan Athlete Responds to Deliberately Letting Chinese Runner Win Marathon
Kenyan runner Willy Mnangat has refuted allegations suggesting that he, along with two others, allowed China’s He Jie to win the Beijing Half Marathon.
The sportsman informed BBC Sport Africa that he, along with Robert Keter and Dejene Hailu of Ethiopia, served as pacesetters in the race. He clarified their role was to assist Jie in winning the race and surpassing the Chinese half-marathon record of 1:02:33.
Mnangat disclosed that four individuals were employed for the pacesetting position, yet one failed to reach the endpoint.
“I was not there to compete. It was not a competitive race for me,” he stated.
Furthermore, the athlete expressed surprise at seeing his name on the bib, as it gave the impression that he was participating in the event alongside the competitors.
He observed that he ought to have been categorized as a pacemaker to prevent any confusion among the audience.
Mnangat expressed disappointment that, despite the leading efforts, Jie didn’t manage to break the national record, though still emerging victorious in the race with a time of 1:03:44, a second ahead of the trio.
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“My job was to set the pace and help the guy win but unfortunately, he did not achieve the target, which was to break the national record,” he told the media outlet.
Mnangat is the sole athlete from the group who has addressed the issue since the Beijing organizers declared their inquiry into allegations of race manipulation.
Notably, earlier on Mnangat admitted to letting Jie win stating “because he is my friend”.
A video featuring the trio gained worldwide attention, sparking speculation. In the footage, they were observed encouraging him as he approached the finish line.
The group appeared to be deliberately reducing their speed, possibly to allow Jie to be the first one to cross the finish line.
In its response to the allegations, World Athletics underscored that investigations were still underway and being carried out by the appropriate authorities.
“The integrity of our sport is the highest priority at World Athletics, while this investigation is ongoing we are unable to provide further comment,” read part of the statement.
Jie, the gold medalist in the marathon at the 2023 Asian Games, faced criticism from his supporters who contended that if the allegations were valid, it would tarnish both his reputation and his professional journey.
New Twist as Kenyan Athlete Responds to Deliberately Letting Chinese Runner Win Marathon