American Runner Loses to Brit in July 4 Race by Less Than One Second — but What Happens at Finish Line Might Make You Wince

American Ben Payne figured he'd finally left behind British competitor Scott Overall in Saturday's Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta.

Image source: Twitter

So as he neared the finish line of the 10K race, Payne raised an index finger, apparently confident of a victory.

Image source: Twitter

Except Payne couldn't see what was all too obvious to everybody else — Overall was sprinting to the finish, quickly gaining ground on Payne.

And the winner was too close to call right off the bat.

Image source: Twitter

But after the smoke cleared and officials completed an hourlong deliberation, they determined that the Brit — on the Fourth of July, no less — beat the American.

By 9/100ths of a second.

Payne — active in the Air Force and stationed in Colorado Springs — told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he didn’t consciously slow down at the tape. But Overall said he thought his counterpart was celebrating and may have eased up a tad.

Check it out:

The exciting finish of the #ajcprr! Live coverage: https://t.co/Q8Pwt1uyk7https://t.co/lNc3gmKTVm

— 11Alive News (@11AliveNews) July 4, 2015

This story has been updated.

(H/T: The Huffington Post)

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