American runner's half marathon lead wiped away after bizarre course mishap

Jess McClain is simply a decorated American runner who has made the podium successful respective events implicit the people of her vocation and was looking to people a triumph astatine the U.S. Half Marathon Championships successful Atlanta implicit the weekend.

McClain was starring the contention with astir 2 miles remaining. But her contention was thrown disconnected people arsenic she was led disconnected the way by a media vehicle, according to Athletics Illustrated. McClain reportedly followed the media vehicle, a constabulary motorcycle and a motorcycle with a camera.

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Jessica McClain (USA) placed eighth successful the women's marathon successful 2:28:32 during the World Athletics Championships astatine National Stadium connected Sept. 14, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

McClain, Emma Grace Hurley and Ednah Kurgat were each thrown off. By the clip they got backmost onto the close course, McClain’s pb was gone.

She finished successful ninth spot portion Hurley and Kurgat finished successful 12th and 13th respectively.

Atlanta Track Club CEO Rich Kenah took the blasted for the error.

Jessica McClain placed 4th successful the women's contention successful 2:25:46 during the U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials connected Feb. 3, 2024. (Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)

"In the women’s race, a gait conveyance near the authoritative people during Mile 11," helium said successful a connection to The Athletic. "As Race Director, I instrumentality afloat work for what occurred. Athletes should ne'er person to marque a split-second determination betwixt pursuing a gait conveyance oregon trusting the authoritative course.

"We are conducting a afloat reappraisal to find precisely however and wherefore the conveyance near the people to fortify safeguards moving forward."

U.S. Track and Field (USATF) said it would reappraisal the events "carefully" arsenic the squad for the World Road Running Championships has not been selected. The enactment said that protests were denied and a assemblage of appeals recovered that "the lawsuit did not conscionable USATF Rule 243 and that the people was not adequately marked astatine the constituent of misdirection. This usurpation contributed to the misdirection taken by the athletes wrong the apical 4 astatine the clip of misdirection.

"However, the assemblage of appeals finds nary recourse wrong the USATF rulebook to change the results bid of finish. The results bid of decorativeness arsenic posted is considered final."

Emily Infield (left) is congratulated by Jessica McClain aft winning the women's 10,000m successful 31:43.56 during the USATF Championships astatine Hayward Field connected July 31, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

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McClain finished 4th successful the 2025 Half Marathon Championships and eighth successful the World Athletics Championships.

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