USA Track & Field has denied an appeal after its Half Marathon Championship in Atlanta ended in chaos.
With less than two miles to go in the women’s race, Jess McClain had a significant lead over Ednah Kurgat and Emma Hurley when the guide vehicle took the trio off course. Molly Born, who had been more than a minute behind the leaders, came through to win the race, with Carrie Ellwood and and Annie Rodenfels in second and third. McClain, Hurley and Kurgat finished in ninth, 12th and 13th respectively around two minutes behind Born. Wesley Kiptoo won the men’s race.
McClain also missed out on the $20,000 prize awarded to the winners of the men’s and women’s races.
In a statement, USATF said: “The jury of appeals found that the event did not meet USATF Rule 243 and that the course was not adequately marked at the point of misdirection. This violation contributed to the misdirection taken by the athletes within the top four at the time of misdirection. However, the jury of appeals finds no recourse within the USATF rulebook to alter the results order of finish. The results order of finish as posted is considered final.”
Under race rules, athletes are responsible for knowing the route of course.
The race served as a qualifier for the 2026 World Road Running Championships. However, USATF said the door was not closed on qualification.
“This race was a selection event for the 2026 World Road Running Championships. That team is not officially selected until May,” it said in its statement. “USATF will review the events from Atlanta carefully. While we understand athletes are eager to resolve this issue expeditiously, our process will ensure an ultimate decision is in the best interest of all the athletes involved.”
USATF added that: “Lead vehicles are provided and managed by the local organizing committee as per Rule 243.2.c of the 2026 USATF Competition Rules. Any questions pertaining to the course and the vehicle should be directed to the local organizing committee, Atlanta Track Club.”
Tim Hutchings, who was providing broadcast commentary on the race, said he understood how the confusion came about.
“When you’re in the heat of battle, you’re seeing red, you’ve got your head down, you’re laser-focused on the task at hand,” said Hutchings, who is a former long-distance runner. “You don’t necessarily listen to people yelling at you from behind. You don’t check if you’re still on course. You’re following a lead vehicle, and it looks like you’re on a good course. But that was not the case today for Jess McClain.”
McClain is a veteran of US distance running – the 34-year-old finished eighth in the marathon at the 2025 World Athletics Championships.