2017 Houston Half MarathonJan 20, 2017 by Taylor Dutch
Leonard Korir's Kick In Houston, Plus More Wild Finish Line Moments
Leonard Korir's Kick In Houston, Plus More Wild Finish Line Moments
In the past year, several wild finish line moments determined winners and losers, often in key moments that decided international teams and Olympic medals. Here are a few more wild finishes from the past year.
On Sunday, Leonard Korir unleashed an unbeatable kick to claim his second victory in two weeks. The U.S. Army standout countered the last-minute move made by Olympic silver medalist Feyisa Lilesa at the Houston Half Marathon. With just 50 meters separating the competitors from the finish line, Korir flew into the chute less than a second ahead of Lilesa. Both crossed the line in 61:14.
The kick to victory was Korir's second in two weeks after outrunning Callum Hawkins to win the Great Edinburgh cross country race in Scotland on Jan. 7.
In the past year, several wild finish line moments determined winners and losers, often in key moments that decided international teams and Olympic medals. Here are a few more wild finishes from the past year.
Shaunae Miller dives to beat Allyson Felix
In a finish that had the entire stadium on its feet, Bahamas' Shaunae Miller dove to edge out Olympic champion Allyson Felix in the 400m final at the 2016 Olympic Games. Miller's last-second dive sent her flying over the line 0.07 seconds ahead of Felix.
Miller's dive over the six-time Olympic gold medalist ignited a Twitter storm among American fans who claimed that the move was illegal. However, the IAAF rulebook states that the "athletes shall be placed in the order in which any part of their bodies (i.e. torso, as distinguished from the head, neck, arms, legs, hands or feet) reaches the vertical plane of the near edge of the finish line as defined above." Despite the controversy, Miller got some backup from another Olympic champion, among many other track fans.
Miller's move was perfectly legal and earned the Bahamas' first Olympic gold medal in Rio.
WATCH: Olympic 400m Final
Brenda Martinez wills herself on Team USA
Brenda Martinez had one of the toughest roads on her way to making the 2016 U.S. Olympic team. In the first week of the Olympic Trials, Martinez was affected by a collision in the final 150-meter stretch of the women's 800m final. It was a tragic near miss to the make the team in an event that she earned a bronze medal in at the 2013 world championships. Despite the disappointing result, Martinez picked herself back up to attempt to make the team in the 1500m.
Just three days after the 800m final, Martinez toed the line in the first round of the 1500m. She won her heat. The next day, she won her semifinal heat, and on July 10--with five races in her legs--Martinez was on the line for the 1500m final. In an expertly timed kick, Martinez surged ahead of Amanda Eccleston. In the final moment, she dove across the finish line for the third and final spot on Team USA. It was her sixth race in 10 days and her first Olympic team berth of her career.
WATCH: Martinez's 1500m final performance
Jenna Prandini throws herself over the line
Jenna Prandini asserted herself on her home track at the U.S. Olympic Trials when she edged out Olympic champion Allyson Felix for the third and final spot in the 200m for Team USA. The former Oregon Duck fell across the finish line to beat Felix by just 0.01 seconds.
The performance marked the 24 year-old's first Olympic team. It also marked the first time Felix missed making the Olympic team in the 200m since her professional reign began at the 2004 Olympic Games.
WATCH: Olympic Trials 200m Final
Kumari Taki slides into gold at IAAF World U20 Championships
In an effort to claim his first IAAF World U20 gold medal, Kenya's Kumari Taki fell with 5 meters remaining and slid into the finish line of the men's 1500m final in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Taki's slide took place at the end of a 53-second last lap over runner-up Taresa Tolosa of Ethiopia. The Kenyan won the race in 3:48.63 with extra fan points for the determination and effort.
The kick to victory was Korir's second in two weeks after outrunning Callum Hawkins to win the Great Edinburgh cross country race in Scotland on Jan. 7.
What a finish to the men's half marathon! @houstonmarathon pic.twitter.com/Uzi1AgDVzV
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) January 15, 2017
In the past year, several wild finish line moments determined winners and losers, often in key moments that decided international teams and Olympic medals. Here are a few more wild finishes from the past year.
Shaunae Miller dives to beat Allyson Felix
In a finish that had the entire stadium on its feet, Bahamas' Shaunae Miller dove to edge out Olympic champion Allyson Felix in the 400m final at the 2016 Olympic Games. Miller's last-second dive sent her flying over the line 0.07 seconds ahead of Felix.
Miller's dive over the six-time Olympic gold medalist ignited a Twitter storm among American fans who claimed that the move was illegal. However, the IAAF rulebook states that the "athletes shall be placed in the order in which any part of their bodies (i.e. torso, as distinguished from the head, neck, arms, legs, hands or feet) reaches the vertical plane of the near edge of the finish line as defined above." Despite the controversy, Miller got some backup from another Olympic champion, among many other track fans. Shaunae Miller's dive was to recover from falling. Sprinters know the quickest way across the line is a well timed lean. Trust me on that.
— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) August 16, 2016
Miller's move was perfectly legal and earned the Bahamas' first Olympic gold medal in Rio.
WATCH: Olympic 400m Final
Brenda Martinez wills herself on Team USA
Brenda Martinez had one of the toughest roads on her way to making the 2016 U.S. Olympic team. In the first week of the Olympic Trials, Martinez was affected by a collision in the final 150-meter stretch of the women's 800m final. It was a tragic near miss to the make the team in an event that she earned a bronze medal in at the 2013 world championships. Despite the disappointing result, Martinez picked herself back up to attempt to make the team in the 1500m.
Just three days after the 800m final, Martinez toed the line in the first round of the 1500m. She won her heat. The next day, she won her semifinal heat, and on July 10--with five races in her legs--Martinez was on the line for the 1500m final. In an expertly timed kick, Martinez surged ahead of Amanda Eccleston. In the final moment, she dove across the finish line for the third and final spot on Team USA. It was her sixth race in 10 days and her first Olympic team berth of her career. WATCH: Martinez's 1500m final performance
Jenna Prandini throws herself over the line
Jenna Prandini asserted herself on her home track at the U.S. Olympic Trials when she edged out Olympic champion Allyson Felix for the third and final spot in the 200m for Team USA. The former Oregon Duck fell across the finish line to beat Felix by just 0.01 seconds.
The lean @J_Prandini out leans Allyson Felix to grab the final spot on #TeamUSA in the women's 200m! #TrackTown16 pic.twitter.com/mI5xcnUUiZ
— TrackTown USA (@GoTrackTownUSA) July 11, 2016
The performance marked the 24 year-old's first Olympic team. It also marked the first time Felix missed making the Olympic team in the 200m since her professional reign began at the 2004 Olympic Games.
WATCH: Olympic Trials 200m Final
Kumari Taki slides into gold at IAAF World U20 Championships
In an effort to claim his first IAAF World U20 gold medal, Kenya's Kumari Taki fell with 5 meters remaining and slid into the finish line of the men's 1500m final in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Taki's slide took place at the end of a 53-second last lap over runner-up Taresa Tolosa of Ethiopia. The Kenyan won the race in 3:48.63 with extra fan points for the determination and effort.
That's one way to win a world title #Bydgoszcz2016 @Cathal_Dennehy pic.twitter.com/5qxaYQi8wA
— Gerard O' Donnell (@gearoid0d) July 21, 2016