In marathon operating, athletes ceaselessly face surprising demanding situations; from excessive climate to cramping, some issues are simply past your regulate. For Kenyan athlete Robert Kimutai Ngeno, it was once a dog curveball that became his fresh Buenos Aires Marathon into heartbreak.
Ngeno was once main the Sept. 24 marathon from 25 km to the 38 km; he got here via midway in an excellent 63 mins, and appeared poised for victory. However of nowhere, a canine began chasing him, forcing him to veer off path.
Robert Kimutai Ngeno, a Kenyan runner, was once attacked by way of a stray canine throughout the Buenos Aires Marathon in Argentina on Sunday.
The runner led the race from the 25km mark to the 38km mark, however the canine’s chase disrupted his focus, inflicting him to drop to the 1/3 place.😢… percent.twitter.com/4KNFD9LNH5
— GTV SPORTS+ (@mygtvsports) September 28, 2023
Fortuitously, the 29-year-old marathoner was once no longer bitten, however he mentioned his focus was once shattered as he dodged and weaved, desperately looking to outpace his four-legged competitor. Thankfully, some spectators got here to his rescue, and shooed the domestic dog away. However Ngeno couldn’t regain the bottom he misplaced, and he ended up completing 1/3, with a time of two:10:16–a three-minute private very best.
The highest two podium spots had been claimed by way of his Kenyan compatriots, Cornelius Kibet Kiplagat and 2016 Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Paul Tanui.
¡Ellos son los ganadores de los 42k de #BuenosAires! 🇦🇷
🥇 Kibet Kiplagat 02:08:29
🥈Paul Kipngetich Tanui 02:09:00
🥉 Robert Kimutai Ngeno 02:10:00#ESPNRun percent.twitter.com/N0bhQJ0pS4— ESPN Run (@ESPNRun) September 24, 2023
The canine assault ended up being relatively expensive for the Kenyan, who overlooked out at the best prize of over USD $10,000. In keeping with Pulse Sports activities Kenya, Ngeno reportedly requested Athletics Kenya to protest the end result, however they declined. He took house the third-place prize cash of round $3,000.