U.S. Half-Marathon Championships Thrown Into Chaos After Leaders Accidentally Led Off Course

Jess McClain was cruising to her first U.S. half-marathon championship this past weekend in Atlanta when the lead vehicle in charge of driving the course ahead of her made a wrong turn with less than two miles to go, sending her and the other would-be top-three runners off the course and costing them the benefits of finishing on the podium: prestige, money, and spots on the team the U.S. will send to the World Championships. McClain was well clear of Emma Grace Hurley and Ednah Kurgat when the incident took place, and all three had to turn around, make their way back onto the course, and finish down the standings, in ninth, 12th, and 13th, respectively. The runners filed formal appeals and protests, which were summarily denied. Per a statement that U.S.A. Track & Field gave to the Athletic: > [T]he 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.