Guy Crashes Berlin Marathon at Last Second, Breaks Tape

Actual winner Wilson Kipsang sets new world record
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 30, 2013 1:27 PM CDT
Guy Crashes Berlin Marathon at Last Second, Breaks Tape
Wilson Kipsang, from Kenya, was the actual winner.   (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

At yesterday's Berlin Marathon, Kenya's Wilson Kipsang broke a world record—but he didn't break the tape. That honor went to a guy who jumped in from the crowd in running gear; he was wearing a number as well as a T-shirt advertising an escort service, the Local reports. Race officials pursued him in the finish area, which was blocked off for the first time amid concerns following the Boston Marathon.

The unnamed man was passed to police, who charged him with trespassing. He's also barred from any future events planned by the same organization. Kipsang, meanwhile, managed to run the race in 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 23 seconds, the new world record. The previous record was held by Kenyan Patrick Makau; it took him 15 seconds longer to pound out 26.2 miles, which he also did in Berlin, in 2011, reports the New York Times. Kipsang walked away with $54,000 for his troubles, plus a $68,000 bonus for setting the record. Kenya's Florence Kiplagat won the women’s race in 2:21:13. (More Berlin stories.)

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