Was Mantz pushed to the side in the sprint?

I had the same first reaction while watching live. I doubt it would ever be enough for a DQ, but I’m not a race official so what would I know.
Great run by Mantz, but I wish he had started that last kick a little earlier. He looked like he ran out of road… and may have had just enough for the win. 😏

I thought so as well.

Mantz is too nice. He just hugs the guy right after. We need more "thugs" in American running. You dont even need to be a thug to stand up for yourself. Someone who stands up for themselves and whallops the guy who purposely impedes him. Bam! Yes, he was purposely impeded and it should have been a DQ. Since Mantz didn't complain and brushed it off like nothing happened, it wasnt. Why wouldn't a doper also do other unscrupulous actions if given an opportunity? I'd think anyone cutting people off at the pro level is shady of other wrongs too.

yes

It looked like he went to the left possibly twice, to make sure Vance could not get by on the final sprint.

I do not have the correct rule book. It is a road race. It did not look like Vance was forced to break stride.

I wonder what the rule book says.

The milliseconds make quite a difference in prize purse

50,000 for the win

20,000 for 2nd

strava.com

Houston Half Marathon | Strava

2nd place-59:17. Shoutout to Ryan Hall for setting a record that I’ve had my eyes on since I ran my first half marathon in 2009. Got out well, right behind Amon Kemboi. We were running into a very cold cross wind, so I stayed...

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It's possible he thought he won because the monitors / people around the finish were using the digital system, which was based on chip time (this is also why the app listed him as the winner initially). But the finish photo / gun time had Gobena a hair ahead.

runnersworld.com

Conner Mantz Was .04 Seconds Away from Winning an Extra $22,000. But Was He Impeded?

With major money on the line, the Houston Half Marathon came down to a dramatic photo finish.

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He was impeded. It sounds like Eyestone and Mantz let it go because they were content with the AR, Gobina had done a lot of keeping the pace honest and to not create a stink. However, the video linked to the Runner’s World article shows Gobina crossing the center line and edging into Mantz’ space.

Road races are the wild, wild, west compared to track races and rarely do you see finishers DQ’d for similar infractions at the finish. Also people holding finish line tapes need to stand well behind the finish line and get the heck out of the way as you can see Mantz was pinched between a left leaning Gobina and the guy holding the tape. It wasn’t a huge infraction but it doesn’t need to be to win by .04. It also wasn’t premeditated, probably just a natural reaction when you can feel a fast closing competitor, but that is why rules are in place. Until people are DQ’d for such “natural reactions” it will continue, especially when the differential in prize and bonus money can be so great.

He is such a humble guy, really an inspiration to all runners.

Good assessment by Mantz. Borderline move by Gobena, but pretty common in road race finishes. You run this risk when you try to pip anyone late. Suspect Mantz will get a nice consolation bonus from Nike which was aided by Gobena keeping the pace going when the pacer dropped and there was wind.

It did, but I think it could be down to aiming for the center of the tape. It wasn't very big and I could see him cutting it so he didn't hit the person holding it. If 3 people were racing for it, someone would've gotten bowled into.

I wonder why our new vice president was racing in Houston yesterday.

Did he have to go through the finish tape? Yes a great photo op but if he would have gone behind the person holding the tape would there have been an issue?

The tape was too narrow. And as you can see the 1st guy is more to the left and Mantz doesn't have anywhere to go. Silly situation. Go away with that tape holding thing if there are 4 guys approaching the finish together.

He would have been labeled a racist for disputing.

MANTZ GOT ROBBED WHERES THE SPORTSMANSHIP!

Cheater cheater pumpkin eater

Gobena had the slightly faster kick but he also didn't hold his line, crossing the center line on the road into Mantz's space. Only because he was slightly ahead of Mantz (and it's tough to tell exactly in a head-on shot) did he have the ability to cut him off. So, it's a marginal case. On the track it's a likely violation but they probably don't call it because there's not enough contact.