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USA Track and Field has officially weighed in after the disaster that was Sunday’s women’s half-marathon national championship. 26-year-old Molly Born won the race in a time of 1:09:43, but only after the first three runners were led astray by the lead vehicle.
Veteran runner Jess McClain, who finished eighth in the full marathon for Team USA at the 2025 World Championships, looked set to cruise to her first national title before being taken about 400 meters off course.
Emma Grace Hurley and Edna Kurgat, each of whom had surged ahead to take podium spots, were also led off the course by the wayward lead vehicle.
The trio eventually returned to the course — well behind the competition. McClain came home in ninth position with a time of 1:11:27 and expressed her extreme frustration after crossing the finish line.
USATF Denies Protest, Blames Race Organizers
McClain and others immediately protested the results of the race. But USA Track and Field not only denied the protest, but they also passed the blame entirely for the incident.
Instead, they’re claiming that race organizers are at fault, and that it’s out of their hands.
According to the jury of appeals, “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.”
But here’s the kicker.
The jury continued: “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.”
So not only did organizers clearly screw up, but USATF says it has no way of fixing it. That leaves McClain out of $20,000 for winning the race — and she could also miss out on a spot at the World Championships in Copenhagen, which goes to the top three finishers.
USATF has issued a statement regarding the finish of the women's race at the USATF Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta this morning, where Jess McClain, Edna Kurgat and Emma Hurley were leading the race but were directed off course by the lead vehicle.
A protest was filed… pic.twitter.com/o3ZO8Gg6eH
— CITIUS MAG (@CitiusMag) March 1, 2026
Born, to her credit, seems willing to cede her spot in that event.
“I shouldn’t go to Copenhagen. I shouldn’t. I’m fine. I’m not going to fight for my spot.”
She told reporter David Monti after the race.
While it’s a noble gesture, it’ll likely come as little consolation to McClain, who appeared to have the race well in hand before the lead vehicle took her off course.
