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Pursuits

Vienna Marathon Winner Disqualified for Wearing Banned Shoes

  • Ethiopian’s Adidas sneakers had soles that were 1 cm too thick
  • Shoe companies have been pushing the limits on technology
Derara Hurisa reaches the finish area during the Vienna City Marathon in Vienna, Austria, on Sept. 12,

Derara Hurisa reaches the finish area during the Vienna City Marathon in Vienna, Austria, on Sept. 12,

Photographer: Hans Punz/AFP/Getty Images
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The Ethiopian winner of Europe’s first big-city marathon since the pandemic was disqualified by race organizers for wearing shoes with soles thicker than permitted. 

Derara Hurisa crossed the line in the Vienna City Marathon in 2:09:22 on a warm early autumn morning, beating Kenyan Leonard Langat by three seconds.