Belisle Apparently Went Distance, Is Reinstated in L.A. Marathon

The saga of Polin Belisle took an unexpected twist this week when Los Angeles Marathon officials reinstated him in the results of the March 7 race.

Belisle, who has been disqualified from several marathons for not appearing in race videos, crossed the finish line in this year’s L.A. Marathon but was automatically disqualified because of his checkered past, a marathon spokesman said at the time.

Belisle complained to marathon officials, who looked through check-point reports and found his bib number appearing in all of them, marathon vice-president Marie Patrick said. Belisle’s time of 2 hours 44 minutes 17 seconds, about a half-hour slower than the winner’s time, puts him in 50th place.

Marathon officials blame their mistake on clock malfunctions at the finish line and the erroneous assumption that Belisle finished in the top 10, Patrick says.

Belisle, a native a Belize who lived in the Valley area for the last few years and lists his address as Placentia, could not be reached for comment.