NEARLY HALF of the women’s marathon field were wiped out by “brutal” conditions on Saturday morning in Doha – with many runners requiring medical attention.
The IAAF came under fire for hosting the 26.2-mile event in the Qatari city on day one of the IAAF World Athletics Championships.
Sviatlana Kudzelich was one of 28 athletes who could not finish the raceCredit: PA:Press Association
Many athletes needed stretchers and wheelchairs to leave the courseCredit: EPA
When the event started at midnight local time, the temperature was 32.7 degrees with humidity at 73.3 per cent.
Runners started dropping out of the race after just 10km with Britain’s Charlotte Purdue unable to continue after the 15km mark.
Of the 68 starters, a record 28 failed to complete the course, succumbing to the heat. Nine runners ran more than three hours.
Some needed stretchers and wheelchairs to leave course situated along Doha seafront, as one team official told SunSport: “It was madness. It’s a bad day for the sport.”
The Kenyan winner Ruth Chepngetich, who came home in a time of 2:32:43, was taken to see doctors after undertaking her media duties.
Her time was the slowest winning mark in the 36-year history of the World Championships.
American Roberta Groner, 41, a full-time nurse and mother of three, came sixth and she said: “Absolutely the most brutal marathon I’ve ever done.
“I always had a bottle on me the whole race. I also used a headband with some ice to trickle down my neck when I could.
The temperature was 32.7 degrees with humidity at 73.3 per centCredit: EPA
Helalia Johannes managed to finish third but was clearly affected by the brutal conditionsCredit: EPA
“We tried as hard as we could to stay as hydrated as possible.
“I knew it wasn’t going to be a super-fast race – the goal was to finish. The key was to finish and not hurt myself.”
Athletics in the stadium is cooler because of state-of-the-art colling technology but Sandi Morris, the American pole vaulter, said: “Can I just mention how I would have died today if that stadium wasn’t air-conditioned? It would have been one mass grave for us all.”
Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich ran out eventual winnerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Kenyan handled the heat better than mostCredit: EPA
28 of 68 starters failed to finish the raceCredit: EPA
The 2022 football World Cup is set to take place in the steaming hot nationCredit: EPA
Athletes used any means possible to keep their temperature downCredit: Reuters
Wet sponges were dished out in an attempt to cool the runners downCredit: Reuters
Some coped better than othersCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But the dangerous conditions proved too much for nearly half the fieldCredit: EPA
A source described it as a dark day for the sportCredit: PA:Press Association
Incredible moment Braima Suncar Dabo helps Jonathan Busby cross finishing line at the World Athletics Championships in Doha
Source: Athletics - thesun.co.uk
