Three athletes who were blown off course while leading the US half marathon championships will receive compensation after finishing far outside the top three.
Event organizers in Atlanta said police assigned to mark the route had to respond to an emergency call, causing confusion on the part of the lead vehicle.
Jess McClain, who was comfortably leading the women’s race, was removed from the main track, along with her closest rivals Ednah Kurgat and Emma Hurley.
The race was won by Molly Born, who was more than a minute behind, while McClain finished ninth, Hurley was 12th and Kurgat was 13th.
The Atlanta Track Club said Tuesday it will award first-place prize money to McClain, while Hurley and Kurgat will split the combined winnings for second and third place, as they were shoulder to shoulder when they left the course.
“We are responsible for the integrity of these championships,” the club said in a statement.
“We regret that Jess McClain, Emma Grace Hurley and Ednah Kurgat were affected by this incident and were unable to be recognized as the top three finalists, reflecting their performance on the field.”
Organizers said law enforcement personnel assigned to the race responded to an “officer down” call and replacement officers were unfamiliar with the race’s “unusual route” over a pedestrian bridge not normally used by cars.
The driver of the lead vehicle followed a police motorcycle, believing that the race was being diverted.
USA Track & Field (USATF) had rejected an appeal, despite acknowledging that the field was not properly marked., external
The race served as a qualifier for the World Road Racing Championships in September, but the USATF has said selection remains open.