Ireland's Michael McKillop qualified for the final of the T38 800m at the World Para Athletics Championships by winning his heat at the London Stadium on Friday evening.
Though the Ballymena eventually won the heat with ease, it was a curious race.
For the first lap, it looked like McKillop and others would have to battle it out for second place. Colombian Dixon de Jesus Hooker Velasquez took off at a flying pace on the first lap, building up a substantial lead at the bell.
Strangely, after running the first lap at world record pace, Velasquez decided to drop out.
That allowed McKillop and Frenchman Louis Radius to take the qualifying spots.
After the race, Ireland team manager James Nolan, quoted by RTÉ, had a theory about what had occurred.
Nolan believes that Velasquez and his team may have been hoping to lure McKillop into running a quick time and so tiring himself for Sunday's final. McKillop was too experienced to take the bait.
A very unusual race with the Colombian going off at World record pace and then dropping out at halfway.
The only logical explanation being he was asked to do this by his team in the hope that Michael would take the pace and in turn affect his race in the final.
Michael has far too much experience to be sucked in by such unusual team tactics and secured qualification always in control.
You can watch the race below.
