US Half Marathon Championship ends in chaos as lead runners guided in wrong direction

March 1, 2026

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.” The Guardian