Summary
Three leading runners in the U.S. half marathon championship were mistakenly taken off course due to a police diversion. The race organizers will compensate these athletes with prize money as if they had finished in the top three.
Key Facts
- Three runners were led off the main course during the U.S. half marathon championship.
- The incident happened because police, who were marking the route, were called to an emergency.
- Jess McClain was leading the women's race but finished ninth due to the diversion.
- Emma Hurley and Ednah Kurgat, who were McClain’s closest competitors, also lost their leading positions.
- Molly Born won the race after the leaders were diverted.
- The Atlanta Track Club will award first-place prize money to McClain and split second and third place prize money between Hurley and Kurgat.
- The police officers replacing the original team were not familiar with the specific race route.
