WASHINGTON.- The average marathon feminine of USAheld in atlanta on Sunday, ended controversially when the leading trio followed a guide vehicle off the circuit.
Jess McClain led the test ahead of Ednah Kurgat and Emma Hurley when the guide vehicle took them off the course less than a mile (1.6 km) from the finish line.
Molly Bornwho was more than a minute behind the first, ended up winning ahead of Carrie Ellwood and Annie Rodenfels in an event in which the podium occupants become eligible for the World Athletics Road Championships in September.
After realizing she had gone off course, McClain reversed and finished ninth in 1 hour, 11 minutes and 12 seconds.
Hurley and Kurgat also had to correct course and finished twelfth and thirteenth, respectively.
A protest was immediately raised, which was rejected.
A subsequent appeal was also denied, leaving Born as the winner with 1h09:42.
The American athletics federation (USA Track and Field, USATF) acknowledged in a statement that the circuit was not adequately marked to avoid confusion, but stated that there is nothing in its regulations that allows the results to be annulled.
“The appeals jury determined that the event did not comply with USATF Rule 243 and that the course was not adequately marked at the point where the deviation occurred,” it said in its statement.
“This infraction contributed to the deviation taken by the athletes who were in the first positions at the time of the incident. However, the appeals jury concludes that there is no recourse in the USATF regulations to alter the order of finish in the results. The published order of finish is considered final,” he added.
Open door with the World Cup
The USATF, however, seemed to leave the door open regarding qualification for the Copenhagen World Cup.
“This race was a selection event for the 2026 World Athletics Road Championships,” he said.
“That team will not be officially selected until May. USATF will carefully review what happened in Atlanta. While we understand that the athletes want to resolve this matter quickly, our process will ensure that the final decision is in the best interest of all athletes involved.”
The men’s half marathon, for its part, concluded without a hitch, with Wesley Kiptoo winning with a time of 1h01:15.
