A typically routine qualifying round in the Olympic track and field events on Wednesday took a bizarre turn when a cameraman appeared to waltz directly onto the track during the second of two heats of the men’s 5,000 meters.
In video posted on social media early WednesdayA cameraman appeared walking casually down the track about halfway through the race. He appeared to be caught off guard as he was almost in the path of the runners.
Everyone changed course without incident, but as they approached the final stretch, American medal contender Abdihamid Nur fell and finished last.
And that accident only came after a massive crash by a rider in the first heat, which led to a four-man pile-up, while others fell like dominoes.
The crash, which occurred about a minute and 15 seconds into the fast race, began when Britain’s George Mills and France’s Hugo Hay exchanged elbows, triggering a pile-up involving Mills and three others.
After the race, Mills pointed his finger in Hay’s face and Hay, who remained standing despite the earlier contact, pushed Mills.
“He took me out,” said Mills, Britain’s silver medallist at the European Championships in June. “He could have gone out.”
Mills, who finished 18th in the race because of the accident, said he thought that “with Hay being French and us being in France” he had little chance of qualifying for the final. But the referee ruled that Mills and the three others were disadvantaged by the contact and all qualified for the final.
The only thing that went as planned was the qualification of Norwegian double world champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen in 13 minutes, 51.59 seconds. Ingebrigtsen was in the competition less than 15 hours after stunningly failing to finish in the 1,500m.
Cole Hocker came from behind to set an Olympic record to win gold in the men’s 1,500m race at the Paris Olympics.
Women’s 100 meters hurdles
There was also an accident in the women’s 100m hurdles when Michelle Jenneke of Australia tripped while crossing the third barrier.
She got up and continued to compete in the wrong lane, also hitting the fourth hurdle, but managed to reach the finish, which is all that is needed to advance to the repechage round.
Defending champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico qualified with the fastest time of the morning, 12.42 seconds.
Athletics Wednesday night: Lyles in 200m semi-final; men’s 400m final
Later, medals were to be awarded in the women’s pole vault, men’s discus throw, men’s 400m and men’s 3,000m steeplechase.
Noah Lyles also competes in the 200m semi-finals as he attempts to complete a sprint double after his photo finish victory in the 100m.
