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Jess McClain is a decorated American runner who has reached the podium in numerous events during her career and was looking to score a victory at the US Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta this weekend.
McClain led the race with about two miles to go. But her race was thrown off course when she was led off the path by a media vehicle, according to Athletics Illustrated. McClain allegedly followed the media vehicle, a police motorcycle and a motorcycle with a camera.
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Jessica McClain (USA) was eighth in the women’s marathon in 2:28:32 at the World Athletics Championships at the National Stadium on September 14, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
McClain, Emma Grace Hurley and Ednah Kurgat were all kicked off. By the time they got back on track, McClain’s lead was gone.
She finished ninth, while Hurley and Kurgat finished 12th and 13th, respectively.
Atlanta Track Club CEO Rich Kenah took the blame for the mistake.
Jessica McClain finished fourth in the women’s race in 2:25:46 at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trials on February 3, 2024. (Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)
“In the women’s race, a pace car left the official track during Mile 11,” he said in a statement to The Athletic. “As Race Director, I take full responsibility for what happened. Athletes should never make a split-second decision between following a pace car or trusting the official track.
“We are conducting a full review to determine exactly how and why the vehicle left the track in order to strengthen safety measures moving forward.”
US Track and Field (USATF) said it would review the events “carefully” as the team for the World Road Running Championships has not been selected. The organization said protests were dismissed and a jury of appeals found that “the event did not comply with USATF Rule 243 and that the course was not adequately marked at the time of the misdirection. This violation contributed to the misdirection the athletes took in the top four at the time of the misdirection.
“However, the Appeals Jury finds no appeal within the USATF rulebook to change the order of finish results. The order of finish results as published is considered final.”
Emily Infield (left) is congratulated by Jessica McClain after winning the women’s 10,000m in 31:43.56 during the USATF Championships at Hayward Field on July 31, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
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McClain finished fourth at the 2025 Half Marathon Championships and eighth at the World Athletics Championships.
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