I think most people can reasonably conclude it's untrue. Figuring out why may take a psychiatrist.
As for the pics from Marathon Photo, they are on the finishing stretch. You can see the cones that divide the marathon and half-marathon chutes. I'm not obsessive enough to endure watching all the finish line video. Too bad the other runners bibs are not clear enough to figure out when he crossed the finish.
Also, all runners who registered but didn't start have a start time (the gun)
If you think you can sort any of the bib numbers of the surrounding runners I can cue up the video. For laughs