US track star denied national title and $20k prize after shocking error by officials

US long-distance runner Jess McClain has missed out on $20,000 and a national prize after a major error from officials.

The 34-year-old competed at her maiden World Athletics Championships in Tokyo last year, finishing in eighth place in the marathon.

She entered the US Half-Marathon in Atalanta, Georgia on Sunday, and was poised to win the race by a comfortable margin.

In the final two miles of the 13.1-mile race, McClain led her compatriots, Emma Grace Hurley and Ednah Kurgat, before all three were involved in a bizarre incident.

The official lead vehicle, which is positioned ahead of the lead athletes and controls the pace during races, took a wrong turn and guided the top three athletes away from the main course.

A police escort motorcycle and a media motorcycle took the same route.

McClain and her rivals, alongside fourth-placed Carrie Ellwood, then had to perform a U-turn and return to the main course - at which point they were out of winning contention.

Molly Born, who was over a minute behind McClain at the time of the incident, ultimately ran the correct route and crossed the finish line in first place.

Not only did Born win $20,000 in prize money, but she won an automatic qualifying spot for the 2026 World Road Running Championships, which take place in Copenhagen in September.

Some more footage of the missed turn at the USATF Half Marathon Championship in Atlanta at the intersection of Nelson Street and Ted Turner Drive.

Jess McClain is clearly just following the lead vehicle, like anyone would in her position.

All the "you should know/memorize the… https://t.co/8vfGAmAfIw pic.twitter.com/yDjZB8EAyn

— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) March 3, 2026

Following her victory, Born took to Instagram to request that McClain, Kurgat and Hurley all be allowed to represent Team USA at the Championships.

"I want everyone to know that I do not feel like the winner of the 2026 USATF Half Marathon Championships," she wrote. "Because I know I should not actually be the winner.

"The least that can be done is to have the women who almost certainly would have finished top 3 represent the USA at worlds and compensate them monetarily (Carrie Ellwood was also ahead of me before taking the wrong turn as well)."

Underneath the post, McClain and Hurley both congratulated Born on her victory, with McClain calling her a 'stellar athlete and stellar human'.

US Track and Field (USATF) subsequently denied a protest filed by McClain, Hurley and Kurgat, before an appeal was submitted.

A jury of appeals, however, found that there was 'no recourse within the USATF rulebook to alter the results of order of finish', despite acknowledging that the event 'did not meet USATF Rule 243 and that the course was not adequately marked at the point of misdirection'.

However, the USATF added: "This race was a selection event for the 2026 World Road Running Championships. That team is not officially selected until May.

"USATF will review the events from Atlanta carefully. While we understand athletes are eager to resolve this issue expeditiously, our process will ensure an ultimate decision is in the best interest of all the athletes involved."

McClain expressed her disappointment at that verdict on Instagram, writing: "This truly sucks for everyone involved. No-one wants this outcome, ever.

"Mistakes happen and I'm sure those who were leading us feel terrible about the outcome. I just hate that the athletes are ALWAYS the ones who pay the price (literally $$$) time & time again.

"I hope and trust that the USATF and Atlanta Track Club can somehow make it right for the athletes who were led off course & the amazing athletes who didn't get their moment to celebrate making a world team (Molly Born, Carrie Ellwood and Annie Rodenfels)."