American runners caught up in bizarre half marathon controversy given exemption

Three American runners who were guided disconnected people during nan U.S. Half Marathon Championships were fixed exemptions to nan World Road Running Championships.

World Athletics said it would let nan U.S. to bring 7 runners to nan World Road Running Championships successful September aft Jessica McClain, Emma Grace Hurley and Ednah Kurgat were led disconnected course during nan half marathon successful Atlanta earlier this month.

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Jessica McClain (USA) places eighth successful nan women's marathon successful 2:28:32 during nan World Athletics Championships astatine National Stadium connected Sept. 14, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

The governing assemblage of way and section said only 4 runners will beryllium entered arsenic "scoring athletes," meaning nan different 3 will beryllium incapable to compete for medals aliases prize money astatine nan world championships successful Copenhagen.

"In moving to find a solution, World Athletics has been sympathetic to nan impacted athletes who would different miss retired connected competing astatine nan WRRC Copenhagen 2026, and knowing of nan unprecedented business USATF – 1 of our starring Member Federations – has recovered itself in," World Athletics said.

The statement added that USA Track and Field (USATF) will beryllium capable to prime which 4 athletes are entered arsenic scoring athletes.

Ednah Kurgat (USA) places 10th successful nan elder women's title successful 33:16 during nan World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26 astatine Apalachee Regional Park connected Jan. 10, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

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USATF said that "we are grateful for their collaboration successful helping america grant each nan athletes progressive successful this bonzer situation."

World Athletics said nan business astir McClain, Hurley and Kurgat were progressive successful an "extraordinary group of circumstances" astatine nan U.S. Half Marathon Championships successful Atlanta.

McClain was starring nan title pinch astir 2 miles remaining. But her title was thrown disconnected people arsenic she was led disconnected nan way by a media vehicle. McClain followed nan media vehicle, constabulary motorcycle and a motorcycle pinch a camera.

She vanished successful ninth spot while Hurley and Kurgat vanished successful 12th and 13th respectively.

"Good things return time," McClain wrote successful a station connected her Instagram Stories.

The first female to transverse nan decorativeness statement of nan half-marathon, Emma Grace Hurley, of Indianapolis, won her class successful a clip of 1:08:25. Runners compete successful nan 17th Annual Indianapolis Monumental Marathon Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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World Athletics made clear that its determination was a "strictly one-off basis."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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