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Rothley runner only one to 'complete' Marathon of the North

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A Leicestershire triathlete won his first marathon while the other 5,000 runners fell short of completing the full distance because they were sent the wrong way. It meant 21-year-old Jake Harrison, who was the clear leader in the Marathon of the North at the time the other runners were sent along the wrong route, was the only one to complete the full distance. Competitors in the marathon took a wrong turn in the Sunderland event because marshals were standing in the wrong positions. Leicester Triathlon Club member Jake, of Rothley, a sports coaching student at Loughborough College, actually ran 264 metres further than anyone else - and still won. Jake, who was running his first marathon only as preparation for an Iron Man triathlon event in the summer, took the correct route through the Sheepfold area near Sunderland's Stadium of Light. The second and third placed runners were not within line of sight of race leader Jake, or the lead vehicles. The remaining runners were sent the wrong way by marshalls, cutting 264m off the distance. Organiser DS Media & Events apologised and has offered affected runners a 25 per cent discount on next year's entrance fee. In a statement to the Sunderland Echo, it said: "Only the lead athlete followed the correct route through the Sheepfold area near the Stadium of Light. "Unfortunately, the second and third placed runners were not within line of sight of the leader and lead bikes and vehicle. "This resulted in all those who followed taking an incorrect route through this section. "Our course measures has now confirmed that 264 metres were therefore lost from the measured route. 'We are sincerely sorry for any confusion and frustration that this has caused." Jake, who completed the marathon in 2hrs 42mins 24secs, told a TV interviewer at the finish line: "I'm a bit tired, but I'm really pleased, it's my first marathon so I'm really happy about it. "Really it's just a training run because I'm training for an Iron Man in the summer, it's the first time I've ran the distance so I'm really happy." Jake's dad, Gary, 45, of Cropston, who is due to compete with Jake in an Iron Man event in Switzerland in July, said: "We had a sneaking suspicion he could do well. He won a half marathon recently and was unlucky in the Ashby 20 event. "I ran the half marathon that day so I was at the finish line when he came in.I'm chuffed to bits for him." He added: "He took the correct route, which meant he ran further but still won it. It's not a big deal. "I wanted him to do a marathon before we go to Switzerland in July." Chris Mawer, president of the Leicester Triathlon Club, said: "It's fantastic that he has excelled in one of the three discplines of triathlon and it shows that triathletes can be as good in one of the disciplines as a pure runner. "To have run and won his first ever marathon when he was only taking part to run it rather than win it is such a boost for the sport." The race was run on Sunday, April 28, but the error has only just come to light. Jake and his dad will swim 2.4 miles in open water, cycle 112 miles and run a full marathon back-to-back in Zurich in July.

Rothley runner only one to 'complete' Marathon of the North


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