- Run4Wales says ‘it looks likely that the participant cut out’ a two-mile loop
A runner has been accused of cheating in the Cardiff Half Marathon after race organisers said it would not have been possible for him to complete the course in 67 minutes.
The participant, named by the BBC as Sion Daniels of Llanelli AC, alleged that he had completed the race in 1:07:58 which would have placed him 23rd out of 27,500 entrants.
But organisers Run 4 Wales claimed he would have had to run a World-Record breaking pace for the last seven miles to achieve the time he claimed.
He now appears to have been disqualified as his name does not appear in Sunday’s official race results.
Mr Daniels submitted a GPX file from his running watch as evidence of his timings – but organisers claim the file was from a past event which followed a slightly different route.
Run4Wales says ‘it looks likely that the participant cut out’ a two-mile loop.
In a statement to MailOnline, organisers Run4Wales confirmed that following an investigation, a runner taking part in Sunday’s Principality Cardiff Half Marathon has been accused of cheating.
‘The runner, who was featured in an S4C television interview alleged that they had completed the race in 1:07:58 but did not appear in the official results because of a timing chip error,’ the statement said.
‘The runner submitted a GPX file from their running watch as evidence, but analysis has shown that the file is from a previous edition of the race – which followed a slightly different route.
‘Analysis of the runners’ position at times of day at various points around the course also suggest it would not be possible for them to have completed the race in 67 minutes.
‘Having been at nine miles at around 55 minutes, it looks likely that the participant cut out the two-mile loop of Roath Park Lake in the latter stages of the race.
‘The runner has been contacted and given opportunity to respond and refute the claims, but will likely be barred from R4W events and served a ban.
‘Details have also been passed to the governing body, Welsh Athletics.’
MailOnline has attempted to contact Sion Daniels for comment.
Vincent Mutai from Kenya won the men’s race in one hour and 35 seconds, closely followed by Shadrack Kimining, also Kenyan, who finished in one hour and 48 seconds.
The winner of the women’s race was Mestawut Fikir of Ethiopia, who got a time of 01:08:13.
More than 27,500 people took to the streets of the Welsh capital to mark the event’s 20th anniversary this year.
Following the race, Matt Newman, CEO of Run 4 Wales, said: ‘The atmosphere was electric at this year’s Cardiff Half, thanks to all of our runners, volunteers and spectators, and we’re expecting next year’s event to be even more popular.
‘The event has completely sold out for the past six years and early bird entries are usually snapped up within 12 hours of going on sale. We’d encourage everyone who’s thinking about taking part next year to register early to avoid disappointment.’