Results stand for man, 81, who used catheter during marathon

The results stand for the 81-year-old man who borrowed a catheter to relieve himself and then went on to win his age group at Sunday's Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, according to the organization that organized the race.

Race officials considered disqualifying Jerry Johncock of Shelbyville, Mich. because of a rule against improper assistance. Johncock's use of a catheter — borrowed from a spectator on the course — is not considered "assistance" under USA Track and Field Rule 144.3(d), according to Twin Cities in Motion.

Executive director Virginia Brophy Achman called Johncock "a great role model and example of what you can do as a runner."


Photo from here.

Johncock borrowed the catheter around mile 21, when clotted blood in his urethra kept him from urinating. He finished the 26.2-mile race in 5:22:17, according to unofficial results.

Official results for all athletes are not published until random drug testing results are returned, which takes about 30 days.

Johncock, who began running at 50, holds the U.S. marathon record for men aged 80-84 with a time of 3:59:12.