USA Track and Field has asked the World Athletics Council to review the outcome of the 2026 USATF Half Marathon Championships after a course error misdirected three leading runners. The incident occurred during the race in Atlanta on March 1, 2026, affecting Jess McClain, Emma Grace Hurley, and Ednah Kurgat. The decision now awaits a vote at the council's meeting on March 18 in Toruń, Poland.
The 2026 USATF Half Marathon Championships, held as the Publix Atlanta Half-Marathon on March 1, 2026, ended in controversy due to a course-marking failure in the final mile. Three leading women runners—Jess McClain, Emma Grace Hurley, and Ednah Kurgat—were led off course by the pace vehicle, which followed a police motorcycle turning left instead of straight at the intersection of Nelson Street and Ted Turner Drive.
The error stemmed from a police officer being struck by a vehicle nearby, causing officers to leave their posts and leave the intersection open without proper cones. As a result, McClain finished ninth, Hurley 12th, and Kurgat 13th, missing out on potential wins, a US$20,000 prize, and spots on the US team for the 2026 World Road Running Championships.
The local organizing committee apologized and awarded prize money to the affected runners. USATF's initial statement noted the course was 'inadequately marked' but stated there was no rulebook provision to alter results, as CEO Max Siegel described it as 'impossible' to determine the hypothetical outcome.
On March 6, 2026, USATF submitted an emergency request to World Athletics for review. Siegel explained, 'While many have called on us to simply dismiss the procedures, we had serious concerns about the long-term precedent that it could set.' He added that the top three official finishers have offered to decline their spots, but USATF seeks to award the affected runners while maintaining selection integrity based on top-five finishers or world rankings.
World Athletics confirmed the matter requires a council vote on March 18. Hurley is currently qualified via rankings among the three. USATF emphasized advocating for athletes and fielding the strongest team.
