Merga DQ'd

justice.. for what?

It looks like Merga took about six steps in the infield when things got tight at the bell.

Inside the on the curve. No video up yet on YouTube that I can find.

13:23.4 1 GBR Mohamed Farah

13:23.6 2 USA Bernard Lagat

13:23.9 3 ETH Dejen Gebremeskel

13:25.0 4 KEN Isiah Kiplangat Koech

13:25.5 5 ETH Abera Kuma

13:26.7 6 KEN Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa

13:27.3 7 KEN Eliud Kipchoge

13:27.7 8 BRN Bilisuma Shugi

13:28.6 9 USA Galen Rupp

13:29.1 10 ITA Daniele Meucci

13:34.0 11 ERI Amanuel Mesel

13:34.0 12 ESP Jesús España

13:34.8 13 KSA Hussain Jamaan Alhamdah

13:45.3 14 IRL Alistair Ian Cragg

14:03.1 15 NZL Jake Robertson

DQ ETH Imane Merga

If 6 more people in front of Rupp get DQ'd, he's looking at a bronze. Come on, race officials!

No, no, no... not fair.

My prediction contest picks for the 5k were:

Mohammed Farah

Bernard Lagat

Imane Merga

I also picked Robles in the hurdles and Bolt in the 100m.

At least he finished the race after he stepped to the infield.

Didn't he already get awarded the medal? Who lodged the complaint? Can't see how it really benefits anyone but Gebremeskel, but Ethiopia loses out...

But did you have Robles, Richardson, Xiang in that order like I did?

long sox wrote:

No, no, no... not fair.

My prediction contest picks for the 5k were:

Mohammed Farah

Bernard Lagat

Imane Merga

I also picked Robles in the hurdles and Bolt in the 100m.

MY first perfect event spoiled, dammit.

HELL YEAH! I HAD FARAH LAGAT GEB!

If you watch the video it was the correct call. He wasn't forced off. He went inside the railing on his own and used it to advance his position.

Yesss, that has just saved my perfect card ;-)

Merga has been pushing people out of his way all season and that's exactlly what he tried to do again. He tried to force his way past the Kenyan in front of him (Kipchoge I think), nearly knocking him into Lagat. When that still didn't create enough room he simply cut around inside the rail.

orlando84 wrote:

Who lodged the complaint? Can't see how it really benefits anyone but Gebremeskel, but Ethiopia loses out...

Hopefully the Kenyan federation. As Merga forces his way along the inside rail Kipchoge gets pushed into Lagat and has to make an almost complete stop to keep from getting tangled up.

Whether it's for pushing or running inside the rail, I'm glad he got DQ'd. He has been pulling this crap all year and it's about time there were some consequences!

Anyone else spot on the first lap, the small ethiopian (forget his name) tried to barge Mo and steal a space on the inside. Mo just looked at him, and pushed his elbow/forearm out and literally said "this is my space, f*** you." This is what Sol and Rupp need to learn to do. Lagat is very good at holding his space as well....see a trend.... 1 - 2???

merga's tactics and this DQ are quite interesting. i'm not saying he had any mal-intent, but he certainly seemed to leave his mark on this race. from about 4:38 of this video, you can see Merga make contact with at least 3 runners (Kipchoge, Longosiwa and ultimately Lagat)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kjEyMmHuYWE

our recap is coming soon with more info...

He clearly just jumped inside the curb to pass,an obvious DQ. Later, Lagat had him boxed again (having made the effort to pass him on the last turn with no contact, as the rules require). Merga barged out into Lagat with about 85m to go, impeding Lagat's kick. I wonder if Lagat would have got there if Merga had not pulled his usual BS.

Merga isthe one and only athlete I would like to just never see again. He manages to mess with every single race he enters. DL MEET DIRECTORS SHOULD NOT INVITE HIM.

Employeee #1 wrote:

merga's tactics and this DQ are quite interesting. i'm not saying he had any mal-intent, but he certainly seemed to leave his mark on this race. from about 4:38 of this video, you can see Merga make contact with at least 3 runners (Kipchoge, Longosiwa and ultimately Lagat)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kjEyMmHuYWE

our recap is coming soon with more info...

"Interesting"? He's always been a dirty runner and this DQ was a no-brainer.