World Athletics Allows 7 US Runners to Compete After Half-Marathon Mishap

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World Athletics has made an "exceptional decision" to allow the US to bring seven runners to the women's world championships in September, instead of the usual four, after three US runners were mistakenly led off course during the national qualifying half-marathon race. While only four of the seven will be able to compete for medals and prize money, the decision aims to ensure the impacted athletes don't miss out on the world championships due to the extraordinary circumstances.

Why it matters

This decision by World Athletics highlights the governing body's willingness to make accommodations for extraordinary situations that impact athlete participation, even in major international competitions. It also underscores the challenges faced by race organizers in ensuring the safety and proper routing of runners during high-stakes qualifying events.

The details

During the US half-marathon championships on March 1, Jess McClain was leading the women's race by a wide margin when she and three other runners followed a guide vehicle that led them off the correct course. McClain ended up finishing ninth, while the next two runners who followed her off course, Emma Hurley and Ednah Kurgat, finished 12th and 13th respectively. World Athletics said it made the "exceptional decision" to allow the US to bring seven runners to the world championships, instead of the usual four, in order to ensure the impacted athletes could still compete at the event.

• The incident occurred during the US half-marathon championships on March 1, 2026.
• The world road running championships in Copenhagen, Denmark are scheduled for September 2026.

What’s next

USA Track & Field will now need to determine which four of the seven runners will be entered as "scoring athletes" who can compete for medals and prize money at the world road running championships in Copenhagen.