This is such a sh*t show and I feel bad for everyone. But, man I swear David Roche is such an opportunist and is probably loving all the attention since Jess is his athlete.
Those women led of course should be compensated as if they finished 1-2-3 and maybe the fkn idiotic person driving the fkn car should pay some of that fkn money.
Really? Taken off course? Last year the Marathon course was short? The food after the race was a granola bar, banana, Smartfood popcorn, some yogurt thing, a water, and another drink? Like I said in a previous thread, the Atlanta Marathon is a very average race on a very challenging course.
Wow someone needs to step in and correct this and give the top 3 back to them.
Unfortunately, this is not possible based on the rules. It is the responsibility of the runner to be familiar with the course.
Yes it is the responsibility of the runner to know the course, but sometimes race directors have to modify the course at the very last minute or even during the race due to circumstances beyond their control (fire, police emergency, accident, etc.).
I have directed many races and had to change the course of the race while it was in progress a couple of times.
So even if runners knew the course before the race, they could have been led off course by an official race vehicle or someone else in race management and believed something led to the change.
As a runner I would always follow directions provided by race management or another authority (such as the police) even if I questioned if it was correct.
Even more than that, there were at least 2 bikes with Emma Grace and Ednah! You can see Emma Grace looking back in the video as they make the turn. She knows this course well, probably knew the course had to go through the pedestrian bridge, but their bikes/motos also made the turn so she followed. Can't blame the athletes for this one!
It's also been confirmed Carrie Ellwood, who finished 2nd, also made the wrong turn but they got officials there in time to correct her.
This happened in Atlanta before for the USATF Masters 5k champs. The top 3 went the wrong way, making the course short, and the 4th place guy was like, “Nope, ain’t following them.”
The rule is crappy, but it’s the athlete’s responsibility to know the course.
Even more than that, there were at least 2 bikes with Emma Grace and Ednah! You can see Emma Grace looking back in the video as they make the turn. She knows this course well, probably knew the course had to go through the pedestrian bridge, but their bikes/motos also made the turn so she followed. Can't blame the athletes for this one!
It's also been confirmed Carrie Ellwood, who finished 2nd, also made the wrong turn but they got officials there in time to correct her.
This happened in Atlanta before for the USATF Masters 5k champs. The top 3 went the wrong way, making the course short, and the 4th place guy was like, “Nope, ain’t following them.”
The rule is crappy, but it’s the athlete’s responsibility to know the course.
You are a disgrace. "Keep it positive !!!!" you are bad for the sport.
Yes this idea that the athletes should have unilaterally decided that BOTH motorbikes and the pedal cycle were wrong and simply run off on their own is absurd.
As pointed out by numerous people above, the race director can change the course mid-race if there is a problem. This would be a classic spot to make a diversion if (eg) there was disruption on or over the other side of the bridge. Runners sensibly have to follow the direction they receive.
It's clear that the 2nd place athlete realised this was not the originally planned course - you seee here look over her should before making the turn, and then the 2nd moto goes through just as the first one had.