Esteban Prado, a 24-year-old long-distance runner, maintained a commanding lead for the majority of the Orange County Marathon in southern California, completing the 26.2-mile course in an impressive 2 hours, 24 minutes, and 54 seconds.
However, his triumph was abruptly halted when it was discovered that he had accepted water from a family member during the race, resulting in his disqualification.
The decision to disqualify Prado was based on a strict rule enforced by USA Track & Field and the race organizers, which prohibits runners from receiving any form of assistance outside of official hydration stations.
Despite his exceptional performance and strong conviction that he was the rightful winner, Prado was stripped of his title and faced the disappointing reality that his final race time would not count towards future races.
The victory was ultimately awarded to Jason Yang of San Pedro, California, who completed the marathon in 2 hours, 25 minutes, and 11 seconds, following Prado's disqualification.