A leading ultra-marathon runner has been disqualified from a Manchester race after tracking data showed she was found to have used a car.
Joasia Zakrzewski, a 47-year-old GP from Dumfries in Scotland, had finished third in the gruelling, 50-mile GB Ultras Manchester to Liverpool race staged on April 7, Good Friday.
But she is believed to have travelled 2.5 miles in a car after mapping data found she covered a mile in one minute and 40 seconds, according to reports today.
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Wayne Drinkwater, the director of the GB Ultras race, told the BBC it was 'very disappointing' and confirmed the issue had been passed to regulatory body, UK Athletics.
He said: "The issue has been investigated and, having reviewed the data from our race tracking system, GPX data, statements provided from our event team, other competitors and from the participant herself, we can confirm that a runner has now been disqualified from the event having taken vehicle transport during part of the route.
"The matter is now with the TRA (Trail Running Association) and, in turn, UK Athletics (UKA) as the regulatory bodies."
Zakrezewski finished 14th in the 2014 Commonwealth Games marathon in Scotland and has set records in the UK over 100 and 200 miles. Third place has been awarded to ultra-runner Mel Sykes.
Adrian Stott, a friend of the Zakrezewski, told the BBC she was 'genuinely sorry' and felt unwell before and during the race.
"The race didn’t go to plan. She said she was feeling sick and tired on the race and wanted to drop out," he said.
"She has co-operated fully with the race organisers' investigations, giving them a full account of what happened. She genuinely feels sorry for any upset caused."
The Manchester to Liverpool Ultra - now in its seventh year - starts at Media City in Salford and tracks the route of the Trans-Pennine Trial, the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey from Manchester to Liverpool.
It's understood around 400 runners took part in this year's event.
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