The women’s US Half Marathon Championship in Atlanta ended in controversy after a guide vehicle led the three leading runners the wrong way.
Jess McClain was in clear first place ahead of Ednah Kurgat and Emma Hurley when they were taken off course. Because of the mistake, Molly Born, who had been over a minute behind, went on to win the race. Carrie Ellwood finished second and Annie Rodenfels third. McClain dropped to ninth, while Hurley and Kurgat finished 12th and 13th.
USA Track and Field (USATF) said a protest from the affected athletes was rejected, even though officials admitted the course was not clearly marked where the error happened. They added there is no rule allowing them to change the final results.
The race was a qualifier for the 2026 World Road Running Championships, but the team will not be officially selected until May. USATF says it will review what happened before making any final decisions.
