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It’s not odd to see a runner fall hard onto the track when competing, and a certain amount of jostling is expected every now and then when trying to make a move in a big race. But rare do you see the amount of physicality that amounts to what would equal an obvious pass interference call in a football game.
That was the scene on Thursday in the final turn of the men’s 5,000 meters at the IAAF Diamond League meet in Lausanne, Switzerland.
In the video above, you see 20-year-old Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha and his 18-year-old compatriot Selemon Barega. Kejelcha had taken the lead on the final lap, and he had the inside lane heading toward the finish. But he began to fall when entering the final turn into the homestretch when he and Barega apparently tripped each other up.
Instead of taking the tumble to the track on his own, Kejelcha grabbed the shorts of Barega and dragged him into the second lane—whether to keep from falling or out of frustration is unclear.
Somehow, Barega stayed on his feet and Kejelcha still ended up on the ground. (Obviously, Kejelcha was disqualified after the race for the obvious infraction.)
Birhanu Balew of Bahrain cruised past both to win the event in a personal best and 2018 world-leading time of 13:01.09. Barega, despite the impediment that likely cost him a win, still finished with his best time of the season of 13:02.67.
Brian has spent more than a decade focused on creating compelling news, health, and fitness content—with a particular interest on enthusiast activities like running and cycling. He’s coordinated coverage of major events like the Paris Olympics, Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon, and Tour de France, with an eye toward both the professional race and the engaging stories readers love.
