The Atlanta Track Club is offering to pay the top three prize money to the injured athletes, Jess McClain, Emma Grace Hurley and Edna Kurgat, following the incident at Sunday’s race.
The Atlanta Track Club says chaos broke out at the USATF Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta on Sunday (March 1) after a police officer who was assigned to the race hit a car near the intersection where women’s race leaders Jess McClain, Emma Grace Hurley and Edna Kurgat left the course.
McClain, 34, had a clear lead as the race entered the final stages, but after misdirecting he lost nearly two minutes to finish ninth, also missing out on the $20,000 first prize.
With qualification for the World Cross Country Championships in Copenhagen at stake, Molly Bourne won in 69:42 to become the national champion.
However, organizers say they will pay McClain, in addition to awarding Hurley and Kurgat a combined $9,750 each, after explaining that the accident was the result of a nearby traffic accident involving a police officer.
The crash led to officers responding to reports that an officer had fallen, leaving several raceway intersections briefly unattended, including one where athletes later exited the course.
Due to the confusion and the movement of several cones on the course, the driver of the leading car believed that the race was being rerouted and followed the police motorcycle in the wrong direction.
The Atlanta Track Club said: “Atlanta Track Club’s position remains unchanged. we are responsible for the integrity of these championships. We regret that Jess McClain, Emma Grace Hurley and Edna Kurgat were affected by this incident and could not be recognized as top three finishers reflecting their performance on the course.
The Atlanta Track Club proposed to match the prize money as follows:
“The Atlanta Track Club also recognizes and appreciates the quick and professional response of law enforcement officers who prioritized the safety of both the injured officer and the more than 11,000 participants on the course.
“The Fulton County Sheriff’s Officer involved in the emergency incident was working for the race and was on a motorcycle. He was taken to Grady Hospital and released the same day.”
“This race was a qualifying event for the 2026 World Road Championships. That team isn’t officially selected until May. USATF will be closely reviewing the Atlanta events. While we understand that athletes want to resolve this issue quickly, our process will ensure that the final decision is in the best interests of all athletes involved.”
