The long-distance runner led off course during the U.S. Half Marathon Championships on Sunday in Atlanta is speaking out, hoping that USA Track & Field makes things right following the blunder.
Jess McClain fell victim to a bizarre situation when the lead vehicle for Sunday’s race went off course as she and two other runners — Emma Grace Hurley and Ednah Kurgat — followed, only to have to turn around to get back on course.
The mistake cost McClain the race, which she had been leading when all of this occurred with under two miles left.
“I was making my way into what I thought was the final mile of the @usatf Half Marathon Championships when I followed a police escort motorcycle, the official lead vehicle & a media motorcycle off course for ~1,000m,” McClain wrote on Instagram. “I had to come to a stop, make a tight & complete u-turn & run back onto course as a national championship title & a world team spot slipped away.
“I’m going try my hardest to walk away from this weekend remembering the joy I felt in those moments where I thought I was on my way to becoming a National Champion & finally make Team USA outright.”
McClain finished the race in ninth place, while Hurley and Kugrat came in 12th and 13th, respectively, and she couldn’t claim the $20,000 prize and the automatic spot in the world championships.
The USATF denied protests and appeals and, in a statement, said that “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.”
“This truly sucks for everyone involved. No one wants this outcome, ever. Mistakes happen & I am 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,” McClain wrote on Instagram. “I hope & trust that @usatf & @atlantatrackclub 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. …
“It sounds like conversations are still being had, so I am choosing to remain hopeful that we’ll soon have a little more clarity than what we left Atlanta with & actionable steps forward.”
The Atlanta Track Club, which was the race organizer, took accountability for the error in statement to The Athletic on Sunday, with CEO Rich Kenah saying that “We are conducting a full review to determine exactly how and why the vehicle left the course.”
In the end, McClain is hoping that the incident in Atlanta will lead to better safeguards so that a similar situation doesn’t happen again.
“Something needs to change & safeguards should be in place for athletes who are out there doing their absolute best on race day,” she wrote. “Someone needs to care enough to do something. Anything. I love this sport so damn much & just want to help make it better for our younger pros & all of the amazing athletes to come.”
