Prize money offered to misdirected runnersReutersThree athletes who were led off course when leading the US half marathon championship will receive compensation after organizers said police assigned to mark out the route had to leave their positions to respond to an emergency call. The Atlanta Track Club on Tuesday said it would award first-place prize money to Jess McClain, who was comfortably leading the women’s race ahead of Ednah Kurgat and Emma Hurley when the guide vehicle took the trio off the main course. Hurley and Kurgat will split the combined winnings for second and third place as they were shoulder-to-shoulder when they left the race course, it added. The US’ Jess McClain, right, participates in the women’s marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Sept. 14 last year. The lead vehicle’s driver then followed a police motorcycle off course, believing that the race was being rerouted.

Source: Taipei Times March 04, 2026 17:12 UTC