A persevering stray dog provided a disconcerting sideshow and almost ruined the race of Ethiopia’s Mule Wasihun in the TCS World 10K on Sunday.
Dogs chasing athletes isn’t an uncommon occurrence in the city but this one proved a bit too hard to shake off for the runner. Wasihun had built up a good lead in the race despite taking a wrong direction at one point when the dog took a liking to him near the Cubbon Park metro station.
He started following Wasihun and menacingly closed in on him on a couple of occasions. Wasihun upped the pace and the dog did likewise, chasing him right along Ambedkar Veedhi and onto the Cubbon Park. The Ethiopian almost tripped over as the dog came in between his legs and he had to jump over the animal to avoid a fall. Sensing the presence of other strays in the park, the dog then beat a retreat but only after revealing an unwelcome side of the city to the world.
Earlier in the race, Wasihun mistook directions and went off into Cubbon Park at the Queen’s Statue, when he should have been running up towards the Minsk Square. He returned only to find his lead cut significantly. The Ethiopian’s miserable day was complete when the hot pace took its toll and he eventually finished ninth.
Mosinet Geremew of Ethiopia, meanwhile, retained the Men’s Elite crown while Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya powered to victory in the corresponding event for women.