10K Runner Loses Out on $10K Prize After a Last-Minute Wrong Turn Near the Finish Line
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Every Independence Day, the Peachtree Road Race takes over Atlanta's iconic Peachtree Boulevard to host the world's largest 10K race. Runners from all over flock to the city for the celebration. 2022 women's champion Senbere Teferi was ready to defend her title and take home the top prize for the second year in a row, but a last-minute wrong turn just a few feet from the finish line cost her the crown.
Teferi, a two-time Olympian from Ethiopia, took a right turn and ran off course at the end of the 10K on July 4. The seemingly small mistake ended up costing her the win, as Fotyen Tesfay, a fellow Ethiopian, crossed the finish line first. Teferi came in third just four seconds later.
During the women's elite division of the Peachtree Road Race, a 10-kilometer race held annually in Atlanta on July 4, one runner took a wrong turn just before the finish line, costing her the win pic.twitter.com/qRs9Umk19y
— CNN (@CNN) July 4, 2023
The winner of the race is awarded a $10,000 prize, while second place receives $5,000 and third place gets $3,000. As a result of her last-minute error, Teferi lost out on $7,000 and a back-to-back win at the beloved Peachtree race.
Tesfay, for her part, wasn't exactly thrilled that she beat out Teferi in this way.
“I was really upset by Senbere’s mistake because she was in the front and she was leading, but she took that last turn,” she lamented after the race, per CNN. "I saw the finish line. At first I thought they didn’t really show us that well yesterday where the finish was. But after I saw that car turn, I saw the finish sign in front of me, so I pushed ahead. But I was really upset because I really planned to stick with Senbere at the finish."
The race addressed what happened on social media. Teferi appeared to be following the lead police motorcycle, which veered off course in the home stretch. "She was within sight of the finish banner, but we understand that in the heat of competition instructions can be misinterpreted," the statement read. "As an organization, we are disappointed whenever we fall short of perfection, and in this case, it appears we did."
She was within sight of the finish banner, but we understand that in the heat of competition instructions can be misinterpreted. As an organization, we are disappointed whenever we fall short of perfection, and in this case, it appears we did. (2/2)
— AJC Peachtree Road Race (@ajcprr) July 4, 2023
It should be safe to say that Teferi and several other top racers next year will be extra mindful of any distractions in that final sprint to the finish.
