The three athletes who looked destined to make up the podium before being led off course at the US Half Marathon Championships on 1 March have been given places at at September’s World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen.
Jess McClain had appeared on course for victory with a mile to go in Atlanta while Emma Grace Hurley and Ednah Kurgat were battling for second only for a chain of events – read more about that here – led to an official pace car going in the wrong direction at a junction.
By the time they rejoined the race, the chance of getting back to the front had gone and Molly Born, Carrie Ellwood, and Annie Rodenfels crossed the line in first, second and third respectively, thus earning three of the four slots for the USA team at the World Road Running Championships.
The Atlanta Track Club, who organised the race, quickly said that they would match the prize money on offer to the first three athletes, which was significant – $20,000 for first, $12,000 for second and $7,500 for third.
And USATF were also hugely proactive as they looked to find a solution in terms of the World Championship given that only four spots were available.
The good news is that all those efforts look to have found the best solution possible in the circumstances, as the following two statements explain.
World Athletics statement
“World Athletics has made the exceptional decision to allow additional female USA Track and Field (USATF) athletes to run at the 2026 World Road Running Championships (WRRC) following the extraordinary nature of an incident at the recent USATF Half-Marathon Championships that acted as a qualifier for the upcoming event in Copenhagen.
“World Athletics has agreed on a strictly one-off basis that USATF will be able to select seven athletes rather than the usual four athletes for the women’s half marathon event at the WRRC in September.
“An extraordinary set of circumstances at the half marathon championships in Atlanta, Georgia, culminated in the breakaway lead pack of three athletes in the women’s race (Jess McClain, Emma Grace Hurley, Ednah Kurgat) being led off course and finishing outside of the automatic qualifying positions.
“In working to find a solution, World Athletics has been sympathetic to the impacted athletes who would otherwise miss out on competing at the WRRC Copenhagen 2026, and understanding of the unprecedented situation USATF – one our leading Member Federations – has found itself in.
“USATF will select their four fastest athletes to be their scoring athletes, while non-scoring athletes (meaning they cannot win medals, receive prize money, nor count towards the team result – but will receive world ranking points based on their final finishing position) will take the three additional places. The three non-scoring athletes will wear USA national kit but of a different style to the four scoring athletes.”
USATF statement
“Following circumstances at the USATF Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta that led three athletes off course, World Athletics has approved a one-time, exceptional expanded entry for the women’s half marathon at the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark this September.
“Thanks to World Athletics, USA Track & Field will be permitted to enter seven women, rather than the standard four. The team spots will be offered to the three athletes who were led off course – Jessica McClain, Emma Grace Hurley, and Ednah Kurgat – along with the top three official finishers from the championship race: Molly Born, Carrie Ellwood and Annie Rodenfels. A final spot will go to an athlete based on world rankings as of May 5.
“While only four athletes will be eligible to contribute to team scoring, all seven entrants will be eligible to earn World Athletics ranking points.
“This decision follows a formal request from USATF CEO Max Siegel and subsequent collaboration between USATF leadership and World Athletics.
“From the moment this happened, our focus was on doing right by the athletes,” said USA Track & Field CEO Max Siegel. “Jessica, Emma Grace, and Ednah had clearly separated themselves in the race and we are sorry they did not get to celebrate their accomplishment by breaking the tape. On behalf of everyone at USA Track & Field, I want to thank World Athletics. Their council and leadership are committed to a fair and athlete-centered solution that preserves the integrity of competition while recognizing the reality of what occurred in Atlanta.”
“During the Atlanta race, an extraordinary chain of events – including the injury of a police officer – resulted in the lead vehicle directing the front pack off course just after the 12-mile mark. At the time, McClain, Hurley, and Kurgat held a decisive lead over the field. In recognition of their position in the race, they were previously named to an honorary podium, awarded USATF Road Running Circuit points, and received top-three prize money from Atlanta Track Club.
“For the World Championships, Team USATF will designate 4 scoring athletes and 3 non-scoring athletes. The scorers will be determined with input from the athletes once the final team is known and all athletes have accepted their place on the team.
“Non-scoring athletes will be recognized as official members of Team USATF and eligible for individual ranking points, but will wear a distinct team kit and may not form a pack with scoring athletes during competition USATF will cover all expenses associated with the additional entries. Should any non-scoring athletes finish in a prize-eligible position, USATF will also provide the corresponding prize money.
“The full U.S team for the World Road Running Championships will be named following the USATF 1 Mile Championships on April 22 and the USATF 5K Championships on May 2. The World Athletics Road Running Championships will be held September 19-20.”
RUN247 says…
What happened in Atlanta was something no one wanted to see and arose after a freak set of circumstances.
It was deeply unfortunate for everyone on the ground, most notably the police officer who was injured and of course the three leaders at the time.
But the responses of everyone involved since, including the three women who crossed the line first, the Atlanta Track Club, USATF and World Athletics have been exemplary.
We now have what looks like the best possible solution.
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