A track star says that she was led off course during the last leg of the U.S. Half Marathon Championships, costing her a first-place finish and a $20,000 prize.
Jess McClain is now calling for USA Track and Field to “make things right” after the error caused her to drop from the lead to ninth at the end of Sunday’s race in Atlanta.
“I was making my way into what I thought was the final mile of the @usatf Half Marathon Championships when I followed a police escort motorcycle, the official lead vehicle & a media motorcycle off course for ~1,000m,” McClain wrote on Instagram.
The runner stopped, made a U-turn, and headed back to the correct path. Two other runners, Emma Grace Hurley and Ednah Kurgat, had also taken the incorrect route.
Meanwhile, Molly Born was first to cross the finish line despite being over a minute behind McClain. By taking first place, she won the competition’s $20,000 prize.
McClain’s final listed time was 1:11:27, while Born’s finishing time was 1:09:43, according to Runner’s World.
Hurley and Kurgat came in 12th and 13th, respectively.
“I’m going (sic) try my hardest to walk away from this weekend remembering the joy I felt in those moments where I thought I was on my way to becoming a National Champion & finally make Team USA outright,” McClain continued in her statement.
“This truly sucks for everyone involved,” she added. “No one wants this outcome, ever.”
A statement from USA Track and Field said that the course was “not adequately marked at the point of misdirection.”
However, the organization said it would not alter the competition results.
The race on Sunday was a selection event for the 2026 World Road Running Championships, according to USATF.
The sports body noted that the U.S. team at the World Championships is not selected until May.
Rich Kenah, CEO of the Atlanta Track Club, told The Athletic that he would take full responsibility for the error because his firm managed the lead vehicles at the race.
“In the women’s race, a pace vehicle left the official course during Mile 11,” Kenah said. “As Race Director, I take full responsibility for what occurred.
“Athletes should never have to make a split-second decision between following a pace vehicle or trusting the official course,” he continued. “We are conducting a full review to determine exactly how and why the vehicle left the course to strengthen safeguards moving forward.”
The Independent has contacted the Atlanta Track Club for further comment.
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