By David Monti
February 26, 2009
(c) 2009 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
Patrick Makau passed through the 20 km mark at the RAK Half-Marathon in
the United Arab Emirates last Friday in a pending world record of 55
minutes and 38 seconds. But a validation check on the course by
renowned measurer Hugh Jones found that although the total distance of
the race was accurate, the 20 km mark was in the wrong spot and that
intermediate distance was significantly short. [emphasis ours]
"Upon checking his figures Hugh confirms that both the 15 km and the
21,097.5 km measurements are confirmed as accurate (within tolerance
levels)," reported IAAF road running manger Sean Wallace-Jones in an
e-mail message. "The 20 km mark however was 72.7m short and therefore
is invalid." Wallace-Jones also said that the 10 km mark was properly
placed.
As such, Deribe Merga's 15 km intermediate time of 41:29, equalling the
standing world record set by Felix Limo in 2001, can be submitted to
the IAAF for approval as a world record. Furthermore, women's winner,
Dire Tune, can rest assured that her 1:07:18 finish time is indeed the
new Ethiopian national record and course record. Makau, who clocked
58:52 at the finish line, also set a course record.
