Top ultrarunner Joasia Zakrzewski disqualified for using a car in race

A apical Scottish ultra-marathon runner has been disqualified from a contention for utilizing a car during portion of the route.

Joasia Zakrzewski finished 3rd successful the 2023 GB Ultras Manchester to Liverpool 50-mile contention - but is thought to person travelled by car for 2.5 miles.

The 47-year-old GP, from Dumfries, is understood to person been tracked connected GPX mapping information covering a mile of the contention successful conscionable 1 infinitesimal 40 seconds.

A person said Ms Zakrzewski had felt sick and was atrocious for immoderate upset.

The substance has been referred to UK Athletics.

Wayne Drinkwater, the manager of the GB Ultras race, said that aft the ultramarathon helium received accusation that a runner had gained an "unsporting, competitory vantage during a conception of the event".

He said: "The contented has been investigated and, having reviewed the information from our contention tracking system, GPX data, statements provided from our lawsuit team, different competitors and from the subordinate herself, we tin corroborate that a runner has present been disqualified from the lawsuit having taken conveyance transport during portion of the route."

Mr Drinkwater said a study of the disqualification had been submitted to the Trail Running Association, which provides the licence for the lawsuit and is an subordinate associate of UK Athletics.

"The substance is present with the TRA and, successful turn, UK Athletics (UKA) arsenic the regulatory bodies," helium said.

Third spot successful the race, which was held connected 7 April, has present been awarded to Mel Sykes.

Scottish Athletics president David Ovens said: "It is precise disappointing to perceive this, fixed Joasia's had specified a palmy play implicit the past fewer years.

"I anticipation she tin enactment this down her and that determination is an guiltless mentation and she tin resume her palmy career."

Adrian Stott, a moving person who has been successful interaction with Ms Zakrzewski since the event, said she had arrived the nighttime earlier the contention aft travelling for 48 hours from Australia.

"The contention didn't spell to plan. She said she was feeling sick and bushed connected the contention and wanted to driblet out," helium said.

"She has cooperated afloat with the contention organisers' investigations, giving them a afloat relationship of what happened.

"She genuinely feels atrocious for immoderate upset caused."

And helium added: "Joasia has been a large ambassador for British athletics and has inspired truthful galore women to tally and execute their goals."

In February, astatine the Taipei Ultramarathon successful Taiwan, Ms Zakrzewski won the 48-hour contention outright - mounting a satellite grounds crossed 255 miles (411.5 km).

Racing for Great Britain successful the IAU World 100km Championships, she won idiosyncratic metallic successful 2011 and bronze successful 2014 and 2015.

She besides represented Team Scotland successful the marathon astatine the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

In 2020, aged 44, she won a 24-hour lawsuit successful Australia with a region of 236.561km.

She has acceptable a fig of records including the Scottish 24-hour record, the British 200k and the Scottish 100 miles record.