US half marathon championship: Runners to be given prize money after being led off course

Three athletes who went off course while leading the U.S. half marathon championships will receive compensation after finishing well outside the top three.

Organizers of the event in Atlanta said police assigned to determine the route had to respond to an emergency call, causing confusion in the vehicle in front.

Jess McClain, who was comfortably leading the women’s race, was removed from the main course along with her closest rivals Ednah Kurgat and Emma Hurley.

Molly Born, who was more than a minute behind, won the race, McClain finished ninth, Hurley finished 12th, and Kurgat finished 13th.

Atlanta Track Club said Tuesday that it would give the first prize to McClain, while Hurley and Kurgat would split the total winnings with second and third place because they were shoulder to shoulder as they left the route.

“We are responsible for the integrity of these championships,” the club said in a statement.

“We regret that Jess McClain, Emma Grace Hurley and Ednah Kurgat were impacted by this incident and were not recognized as top-three finishers to reflect their performance on the course.”

Organizers said police personnel assigned to the race responded to a “no attendant” call and that reserve stewards were unfamiliar with the race’s “unusual route” over a footbridge not normally used by cars.

The driver of the lead vehicle then followed a police motorcycle, believing that the direction of the race had been changed.

USA Track and Field (USATF) rejected the appeal admitting that the course was inadequately marked., external

The race was a qualifier for the World Road Running Championships in September, but USATF said the choice was open.