Half-marathon runner in cheat storm after setting ‘impossible’ world record pace – but is busted by key clue
A runner has been disqualified from the Cardiff Half Marathon after organised deemed his WORLD RECORD pace for the final seven miles was “not possible”.
Sion Daniels completed Sunday’s 13.1 mile course in one hour, seven minutes and 58 seconds, securing 23rd place out of 27,500 entrants.
However, organisers Run 4 Wales claimed his GPS data showed he would have had to complete the final 11 kilometres at world record pace in order to achieve the impressive time.
As a result, his name has been removed from the race results.
Daniels, who featured in an S4C interview after the race, is said to have submitted a GPX file to prove he legitimately completed the course.
But organisers, who were celebrating the 20th anniversary of the race, believe this data was from a past event which followed a slightly different route.
They also understand he came through the nine-mile marker in 55 minutes, meaning he would have had to complete the last four miles in just 12 minutes.
Run 4 Wales also claim “it looks likely that the participant cut out” a two-mile loop.
SunSport has approached Daniels’ running club, Llanelli Athletic Club, for comment.
A Run 4 Wales statement sent to The Mail read: “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.
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“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.”
According to Daniels’ Runbritain rankings, his half marathon personal best is 1:19:53, nearly 12 minutes slower than his time at the Principality Cardiff Half Marathon.
Kenyan Vincent Mutai won the men’s race with a time of 1:00:35, while Ethiopia’s Mestawut Fikir claimed the women’s race after crossing the line in 1:08:13.