Runner Berhanu Girma of Ethiopia won Grandma's Marathon on Saturday after competitor Lamech Mokono of Kenya swallowed water wrong, costing him the race.
Mokono and Girma were in a two-man race at mile 19, becoming a one-man race at the 22-mile mark, with Girma taking the lead, the Star Tribune said.
Mokono, winner of the 2008 race, lost the lead on Saturday as he took a drink of water that went down wrong at an aid station near the 19-mile mark, The Associated Press said.
The gulp of water went down wrong and almost caused him to collapse, Mokono told the Star Tribune.
Girma did not expect to win the marathon until witnessing Mokono's drinking mishap, the Associated press said.
Girma finished first with a time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, 25 seconds. Mokono finished third with a time of 2 hours, 13 minutes, 28 seconds.
