No matter how good a person may be in what they do, failure to adhere strictly to instructions can cost them their hard work and commitment – and this was the case of Ethiopia’s Derara Hurisa who was disqualified for wearing the wrong shoes after winning the latest Vienna Marathon.
On the ground reports have it that the 24-year-old Hurisa crossed the line first by three seconds but was later told he had been disqualified because the soles of his shoes were 1 centimetre (0.4 inches) thicker than the maximum 4 centimetres allowed.
Speaking on the unfortunate development, organisers said Hurisa had registered another shoe that met race rules but switched to the shoes he had used in training to run the actual marathon.
Race coordinator Johannes Langer said, “I can’t say at the moment why he didn’t run in the shoes that were specified in the form”.
Following Hurisa’s disqualification, Leonard Langat of Kenya, who had originally finished second — in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 25 seconds — was declared the winner.
Betesfa Getahun of Ethiopia and Kenya’s Edwin Kosgei completed the top three.
Meanwhile, Debutant Vibian Chepkirui of Kenya won the women’s race in 2:24:29.
