A Kenyan runner missed out on a chance to claim more than Ksh3 million in prize money after a bizarre mistake in the final metres of the Prague Birell 10K Night Race.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

26-year-old Victor Kipruto Kiprono had been leading the 10-kilometre race and appeared on course for victory when he followed the lead car instead of heading straight for the finish line.

According to reports, as Kipruto was heading towards the finish line, the lead vehicle peeled away from the finishing lane to clear the way, and he followed it, briefly taking the wrong route.

By the time he corrected his direction and entered the finish chute, the victory had slipped away.

📌 What You Need to Know

Rodrigue Kwizera took advantage of the confusion to win the race in 27:15, while fellow Kenyan Owen Korir Kapkama finished second in 27:16.

Kipruto was forced to settle for third in 27:18, with Filex Kibet Masai fourth in 27:19 and Uruguay's Santiago Catrofe fifth in 27:24.

Kipruto has also been building his reputation on the international European road circuit, competing in elite races such as Castellón in Spain, where he set a personal best of 27:10 in 2025. He is regularly entered in strong fields featuring other sub-27:30 Kenyan runners, including Isaac Kibet Ndiema and Filex Kibet Masai.

The result was particularly costly for Kipruto, who had entered the race as one of the favourites after setting a personal best of 27:10 in Castellón, Spain, in 2025.

Kipruto later acknowledged that he had seen the finish gate but instinctively followed the brightly lit vehicle, turning what appeared to be a certain victory into a frustrating third-place finish.

Race organisers RunCzech apologised after the incident and acknowledged the confusion surrounding the lead vehicle and the final stretch of the course. However, the official results were allowed to stand.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke