Of the 32,000 people who finished Sunday’s annual Mexico City marathon, more than 3,000 cheated, organizers say.

According to the Sports Institute of Mexico City, Indeporte, although over 38,000 people had registered only 29,555 runners showed up for the race early Sunday morning. But the final tally of runners who crossed the finish line in the 42-kilometer race was 32,645, meaning that an additional 3,090 people joined in along the route.

The cheating runners were disqualified.

Despite the fraudsters, this year’s turnout could mean that the Mexico City marathon will be the world’s eighth biggest.

The total of 27,544 runners who finished the race exceeded the total in the Boston marathon by 1,731. That event is currently No. 8 in the world.

The final ranking will be tallied later this year once other cities have completed their own marathons.

Of the 38,336 people who registered to run in Mexico this year, 50% were locals, 41% from elsewhere in the country and nine per cent were foreign.

Source: Milenio (sp)