Japanese runner Natsuki Terada made an unbelievable mistake in the final stages of the Tokyo-Hakone relay marathon.

With less than 200 metres left in the two-day marathon competed between Japanese universities, Terada was in eighth place with four runners contesting the three spots that would secure entry for next year.

But after 14 miles of torture and with the finish line only strides away, he took a wrong turn!

Terada turned right instead of running straight ahead to the finish line but after being put back on track by the desperate attempts of an official in a white lab coat, he recovered to finish in 10th and secure his team a place in the 2012 race.