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Unknown Local Accidentally Wins A Marathon After The Top Runners Take A Wrong Turn

REUTERS/John Gress

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Grace Carr Reporter
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An Italian local won the Huawei Venice Marathon Sunday after all the top contenders in the race went the wrong way.

After the top seven runners took a wrong turn, Italian runner Eyob Faniel Gebrehiwet won the marathon, marking the first time an Italian has captured the top spot in the race in 22 years, according to the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF).

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Gebrehiwet, 25, was roughly a minute and a half behind the pack leaders when they went the wrong way, allowing him to capture gold with a time of two hours, 12 minutes and 16 seconds.

“On the eve of the race I felt pressure but I managed to stay calm as I knew that I had worked well,” Gebrehiwet said after the race. “Today’s race show that the work is paying off. It was not an easy race … I dedicate the win to myself as I have always believed in my work despite all the difficulties.”

Gebrehiwet is a member of the local Venice Marathon Club and became an Italian citizen in October 2015. The Huawei marathon was Gebrehiwet’s second marathon.

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