We have another Rosie Ruiz controversy of someone who took credit for winning a major marathon only to be accused of skipping much of the race. Kendall Schler celebrated her victory at the St. Louis Marathon on April 12th only to have her title taken away after marathon officials discovered that she cheated. Officials say that they believe that she slipped onto the course after the last checkpoint — a conclusion reinforced by the fact that Schler did not register any times on the route. It is interesting that there is no threat of a lawsuit either by the race or by Schler, who would presumably sue in defamation if she had indeed run the race.
It is astonishing to see people like Ruiz in 1979 steal the glory from true athletes at such moments. Another example is Kip Litton, a Michigan dentist, who was found to have cheated in a series of races across the US. It is remarkably cruel because you rob real athletes of their crowning achievement.
One report states that Schler insisted that she removed the tracking device from her running “bib” because she did not want a time for the race. However, putting aside that curious desire, the race officials point out that they could find no photographs to confirm that she ran the entire race in either 2014 or 2015.
The new winner in Missouri was Andrea Karl, a graduate student at St. Louis University. She finished about four minutes after Schler’s supposed win with a time of 2 hours, 54 minutes and 28 seconds. While Karl can now collect the $1,500 for winning, she was denied that thrill of the finish line celebration.
Notably, Schler finished in third in last year’s St. Louis Marathon (which allowed her to qualify for this year’s Boston Marathon) but St. Louis officials say that they cannot find evidence that she ran that entire race. She has now been disqualified.
The most obvious litigation would be a lawsuit by Schler, who notably has been silent. This would be a classic case of defamation against the race organizers if the allegation is untrue. It is not simply a claim that suggestion grossly unethical conduct but potentially criminal conduct. Indeed, it is not clear if Schler claimed the $1,500 which could be treated as criminal fraud.
Then there is the race and Karl. If the allegation is true, Schler ruined a critical part of the marathon and forced the race organizers to extend time and money to prove the fraud. Then there is Karl and her injury.
Notably, Ruiz was not charged or sued — at least not for that incident. In 1982, Ruiz was given a week in jail and five years probation for embezzling $60,000 from a real estate company where she worked. In 1983, she was arrested as part of arrests over a cocaine deal. She was sentenced to three years’ probation.
Returning to Schler, the fact that this was a race with a monetary prize would seem to move this beyond simple bragging or some stunt. It seems to me that there should be more of a sanction than simply being disqualified in such a case. Of course, much like Stolen Valor cases, the public backlash over such alleged dishonesty is a significant punishment in itself. Ironically, for those seeking glory, this type of allegation can haunt them for the rest of their lives as it has Ruiz.
What to you think?
“If you believe that the public shame, alone, is enough to
quell this individual’s desire to skirt the rules…”
bam bam, setting aside the issue of how you got that out of my comment, I don’t believe that. I do believe that filing a civil suit against Schler, assuming she cheated, would be futile and cost way more money than will ever be collected from her than the most favorable of outcomes.
What I meant by comment was that the consequences from the publicity, in my opinion, is enough “punishment” for the alleged perpetrator. What could possibly be accomplished by suing this lady in civil court, besides filling the pockets of the attorneys who would be involved in the case? Do you think such a suit will quell this individual’s desire to skirt the rules?
Is it just me? It really annoys me when people don´t use the past perfect tense when they should. It should read, ….”when marathon officials discovered that she had cheated”.
Juris
If you believe that the public shame, alone, is enough to
quell this individual’s desire to skirt the rules, look no farther than Ruiz, who was involved in some sort of embezzlement scheme and cocaine deal back in the 1980’s. Those arrests didn’t seem to deter her from again attempting to collect money that she did not earn as the winner of a race.
Well, this is interesting. It makes me think of an Irish Poem!!! (J’assume her name rhymes with “fur” and not “fair”.)
Race-ial Schlers???
An Irish Poem by Squeeky Fromm
There once was a racer named “Schlers”
Who just smiled while the trophy was hers!
But like all knaves and fools
She discovered the rules,
Don’t include cutting time with chauffeurs!
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
And respectfully disagree with the Prof’s point that it is “interesting” that there is no threat of a lawsuit by any of the related parties. This is one of those disputes that are better left out of the court system. The alleged perpetrator will be punished enough by the public, as she should be if the allegations are true. And my understanding from following the story, which is local to me, is that she was not paid any of the prize money.
Thanks in part to the Cardinals, Karl was given another opportunity for glory in crossing the “finish line” before the Cards nationally televised game against the Reds last night.
http://www.runnersworld.com/general-interest/st-louis-marathon-winner-gets-her-moment
But alas, I’m too old and fat for that now.
Nick, you’re never too old or too fat to do it. Its a great way to lose weight, and people in their 70s have done it. The main deterrent is people find trail food and bad weather too much of a downer to go on.
She looks like a cheater…………
Watch out for the Cheater!
Its a song by Bob Kuban and the In Men. That is a Saint Louis band from the 60’s, 70s, 80s.
My Husband claims to this day he wrote those words 😉
The only time that I run is when there’s a sale at Macy’s. 🙂
Gotta love the photo displayed above. Schler is snapped sporting around a headband, to catch all the sweat, of course, a half-eaten banana and a bottle of water. Whew, that was some exhausting race! Must replenish my energy! My potassium level must be low! At least she knew better than to tote around a half-eaten glazed doughnut and can of Mountain Dew.
She is a trans-marathon runner.
She feels like she wins marathons, wears running clothes, has a number on her shirt, and even did some of the running, so why not?
How does her winning hurt you?
Don’t be a hater.
Pogo
You taught me all about those trans morphing people I need to know – they all cheat life I mean they cheat IN life 😉
There seems to be big money (not announced by the press) given to the winners of these races.
once your caught cheating the first thing people will remember about you is that your a cheater unless you do something much worse
She’s just another Rosie Ruiz, remember the Boston marathon cheater.
RCocean, Now see, I learned something new about you. We love hiking. I have dreamed of hiking the Appalachian Trail. But alas, I’m too old and fat for that now.
Like JT – I’m a big hiker and enjoy it a lot. I’d rather hike the Grand Canyon from Rim to Rim then run 26 miles in a big city.
Running is marathons is actually bad for you. Its puts incredible stress on the body – especially after the 20 mile mark. I can see doing once – just to say you did it. Otherwise, I’m with Nick – why torture yourself? Why not do some physical activity that y’know is actually fun and healthy? But to each his own.
I met some friends in Boston some years ago for the 100th running of the Boston Marathon. My brother suggested we go to the BC campus @ a point just after the runners had completed the infamous, Hearbreak Hill. All of the runners looked like they had just been tortured. The Africans a bit less so. The female winner had diarrhea and was also mentruating, evidence all down her leg as she ran to victory. People make fun of my favorite sport, baseball. I get that. To each their own. But, I simply don’t understand why one would torture themselves. Now, just the fact that you complete a marathon I am certain is a magnificent self fulfillment. But, there are thousands of runners in a marathon who KNOW they have no hope of winning, or even being in the top 1000. Constantly running a marathon just to finish, would get old to me. That said, a pitchers duel in baseball gets old quickly to most folks. But, having pitched, coached, and just observed pitchers duels, they are like watching a great movie for me.
Went to Dodger Stadium yesterday. A beautiful 75 degree day. A clear majority of fans in the stadium are Hispanic. My wife and I say ~60-70%. Almost all familes, good people, enjoying a great game. Dodger Stadium was my 28th MLB park. It is in my top 5 favorites. Here’s the irony of all the Hispanic fans. The city of LA evicted an entire Mexican community in Chavez Ravine circa 1958 to build Dodger Stadium. To understand history, one must appreciate irony.
She thought she could win by jogging her memory.
Reminds me of the two LA marathons I ran. In ’77, I had never run a marathon before and didn’t train for this one, I put down 3 hours as my time and was given a number near the start line. Bang, I was off at a respectable clip for the first five miles, then it started to hit me. I slowed down, cramped up, and over ten thousand runners slowly passed by. It was one of the most depressing hours I ever spent. Runners in clown costumes ran by. Runners linked together in snake and insect costumes ran by. Anyway, I loosened up near the half way mark and managed to finish in the bottom of the top half.
The next year I trained and knocked 40 minutes off my time. But, I will never forget those thousands and thousands of runners slowly passing me by.