The women’s race at the US Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta ended in controversy after a guide vehicle took the three leading athletes the wrong way.
Jess McClain was comfortably ahead of Ednah Kurgat and Emma Hurley at the head of the race when they were taken off the track.
Molly Born, who was more than a minute behind, ended up winning the race, qualifying for the World Road Racing Championships in September.
Carrie Ellwood and Annie Rodenfels were second and third respectively, while McClain finished ninth, Hurley finished 12th and Kurgat 13th.
USA Track and Field (USATF) said, external A protest by the three athletes taken to the contrary was rejected before an appeal was filed.
He added that the appeals jury determined that “the course was not properly marked at the detour point,” but that “there was no recourse within the USATF regulations to alter the order of arrival of the results.”
He added: “This race was a selection event for the 2026 World Road Racing Championships. That team is not officially selected until May.
“USATF will carefully review the Atlanta events. While we understand that athletes are eager to resolve this issue quickly, our process will ensure that a final decision is in the best interest of all athletes involved.”