Home › Race Coverage › Kiptoo, Bor, & Muhumed earn USA spots in Atlanta; Lead women have off-course disaster

Kiptoo, Bor, & Muhumed earn USA spots in Atlanta; Lead women have off-course disaster

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by Clay Shaw
Photography by Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell

3.1.26, Atlanta, GA—Wesley Kiptoo became a USA citizen last year and won the USATF Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta in 1:01:15. Hillary Bor of Colorado Springs was second in 1:01:30. Ahmed Muhumed of Flagstaff, Az was third in 1:01:31. The three will represent the United States in the World Athletics Road Racing Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark on September 19th.

Charles Hicks of Eugene, OR was fourth in 1:02:10. Robert Liking of Flagstaff, AZ was fifth in 1:02:21.

Jessica McClain of Phoenix was racing toward victory, along with Emma Grace Hurley of Indianapolis, IN and Ednah Kurgat of Colorado Springs, C0. On a long straightaway near mile 12, the trio followed a lead car that inexplicably made a left turn at that point. Carrie Elwood of Boulder also made that turn but was called back by a race official. The trio was on a 1:06 to 1:07 half marathon finish pace, and ran nearly an extra half mile and lost two minutes and several places. Rich Kenah, CEO of the Atlanta Track Club said, “As race director I take full responsibility for what occurred.”

At the finish line Molly Born of Chapel Hill, NC broke the tape in 1:09:43; she was confused by the banner for what she thought was fourth place as she had not witnessed the leaders going off course. Carrie Elwood of Boulder, who had briefly gone awry, recovered to place second in 1:09:47. Annie Rodenfels of Longmont, CO was third in her first half marathon in 1:10:12. Kasandra Parker of Waverly, IA was fourth in 1:10:47. Annamaria Kostarellis of Albuquerque, NM was fifth in 1:10:57.

Protests on behalf of the affected athletes were filed with “No recourse within the USATF handbook to alter the results of the finish.” At this point the USATF will announce the women’s team for Copenhagen at a later date. Molly Born said afterwards, “I want everyone to know that I do not feel like the winner of the USATF half marathon champs, because I know I should not actually be the winner.”  She added, “If a spot on the world team is offered to me, I do not plan to take it regardless of who it goes to, because I did not fairly earn it.”

We have seen some people on social media maintaining that it is the athlete’s responsibility to memorize an urban race course with 30 turns on city streets.  We believe that is ridiculous.  Imagine arriving at the city, reviewing the course on paper and perhaps by vehicle and now having memorized the course.  To us, it would be more ridiculous for the runners NOT to follow the race lead vehicles.  Perhaps they were leaving the course for a reason.  (Please see next for images from the Atlanta Track Club released on March 3, 2026.  There was a lot more to the story.)

Atlanta Track Club has determined to compensate the athletes who crossed the finish line (1, 2, 3) and those who were led off-course.  Runner’s Gazette is hopeful that Jess, Emma Grace and Ednah will be selected to run in Copenhagen.

Top Women

  1. 1:09:43 Molly Born, 26, Chapel Hill, NC
  2. 1:09:47 Carrie Elwood, 31, Boulder, CO
  3. 1:10:12 Annie Rodenfels, 29, Longmont, CO
  4. 1:10:47 Kasandra Parker, 26, Waverly, IA
  5. 1:10:57 Annamaria Kostarellis, 26, Albuquerque, NM
  6. 1:11:08 Biruktayit Degefa, 35, Colorado Springs, CO
  7. 1:11:20 Erika Kemp, 31, Providence, RI
  8. 1:11:26 Allie Ostrander, 29, Boulder, CO
  9. 1:11:27 Jess McClain, 34, Phoenix, AZ
  10. 1:11:27 Maggie Montoya, 30, Lafayette, CO
  11. 1:11:29 Rachel Smith, 34, Flagstaff, AZ
  12. 1:11:38 Emma Grace Hurley, 28, Indianapolis, IN
  13. 1:11:50 Ednah Kurgat, 34, Colorado Springs, CO
  14. 1:12:05 Anna Oeser, 26, New York, NY
  15. 1:12:42 Makena Morely, 29, Bozeman, MT
  16. 1:13:10 Jessica Gockley-Day, 27, Fountain, CO
  17. 1:13:13 Madey Dickson, 29, Riverton, UT
  18. 1:13:23 Lexi Thompson, 28, West Haven, UT
  19. 1:13:33 Annie Heffernan, 29, Boston, MA
  20. 1:14:55 Lisa Goodin, 39, San Diego, CA
  21. 1:14:56 Amanda Martin, 29, Salt Lake City, UT
  22. 1:15:00 Paige Hofstad, 28, Raleigh, NC
  23. 1:15:09 Jessica Donohue, 30, Glen Head, NY
  24. 1:16:00 Clare Peters, 26, Raliegh, NC
  25. 1:16:21 Anna Lowry, 27, New Albany, IN
  26. 1:16:29 Gabrielle Orie, 27, Orchard Park, NY
  27. 1:16:49 Erin Del Giudice, 32, Charlotte, NC
  28. 1:17:21 Kelsie Vicknair, 23, Boston, MA
  29. 1:17:58 Jacqueline Gaughan, 26, Boston, MA
  30. 1:18:00 Hanna O’Connor, 25, Boston, MA

Top Men

  1. 1:01:15 Wesley Kiptoo, 26, Bellemont, AZ
  2. 1:01:30 Hillary Bor, 36, Colorado Springs, CO
  3. 1:01:31 Ahmed Muhumed, 28, Flagstaff, AZ
  4. 1:02:10 Charles Hicks, 24, Eugene, OR
  5. 1:02:21 Robert Liking, 23, Flagstaff, AZ
  6. 1:02:22 Aidan Reed, 28, Boulder, CO
  7. 1:02:35 Cole Sprout, 24, Eugene, OR
  8. 1:02:38 Graydon Morris, 24, Chapel Hill, NC
  9. 1:02:49 Sam Chelanga, 41, Fayetteville, NC
  10. 1:03:01 Robert Miranda, 25, Newton, MA
  11. 1:03:13 Benjamin Eidenschink, 29, Longmont, CO
  12. 1:03:39 Anthony Raftis, 28, Mammoth Lakes, CA
  13. 1:03:41 Noah Fisher, 23, Greenville, SC
  14. 1:04:09 Alec Basten, 28, St Louis, MO
  15. 1:04:11 Erik Linden, 26, Boston, MA
  16. 1:04:44 Dayton Brown, 26, Rockford, MI
  17. 1:04:49 Ryan Johnson, 24, Waltham, MA
  18. 1:04:57 Salvador Capetillo, 28, Flagstaff, AZ
  19. 1:05:22 Jack Mastandrea, 28, Greenville, SC
  20. 1:05:23 Jason Weitzel, 29, Greenville, SC
  21. 1:05:27 Jack Kelke, 22, Washington Twp, MI
  22. 1:05:53 Graham Crawford, 33, Charlottesville, VA
  23. 1:06:18 Michael McCann, 23, Moscow, PA
  24. 1:07:11 Andrew Kaye, 25, Golden, CO
  25. 1:07:52 Isai Rodriguez, 27, Chapel Hill, NC
USATF Half Marathon Championships near mile 1 on Marietta Street. Graydon Morris, Robert Miranda, Charles Hicks, Cole Sprout were all prominent in the penultimate lead pack of elite men.
The USATF Half Marathon Championships were normal for the first hour. Favorites Ednah Kurgat, Emma Grace Hurley, Jess McClain, and Carrie Elwood rock the lead pack on Marietta Street across from Centennial Park.
Wesley Kiptoo of Arizona is elated to win the 2026 USATF Half Marathon Championships in 1:01:15.
Ahmed Muhumed of Flagstaff is thrilled to be third and the final member of Team USA for the Copenhagen World Road Racing Championships. Here he greets his two flag-draped colleagues who finished #1 and #2.
Charles Hicks of Eugene, OR was fourth in 1:02:01.
Robert Liking of Flagstaff, AZ sprints in fifth overall in 1:02:21. Aidan Reed of Boulder, CO was one second back in sixth.
Cole Sprout of Eugene was seventh in 1:02:35.
Graydon Morris of Chapel Hill, NC was eighth in 1:02:38.
Sam Chelanga of Fayetteville, NC was ninth in 1:02:49. Sam is 41, and was the only master in both the elite fields.
Ahmed Muhumed, Wesley Kiptoo, and Hillary Bor are going to be the USA team for Copenhagen 2026 World Athletics Road Racing Championships on September 19.
Molly Born of Chapel Hill, NC is the USATF Half Marathon Champ in 1:09:43. She seemed confused by the banner, thinking she was in fourth place.
Carrie Elwood of Boulder was in fourth place when the leaders were off course. She was called back onto the correct course and placed second in 1:09:47.
Annie Rodenfels of Longmont, CO was third in her first race at the half marathon distance in 1:10:12.
Allie Ostrander of Boulder, CO was eighth in 1:11:26. Maggie Montoya of Lafayette, CO was tenth, and Jess McClain of Phoenix was ninth after going nearly a half mile off course.
Ahmed Muhumed, Wesley Kiptoo, and Hillary Bor show off their smiles after earning spots on Team USA. A good day for Hoka too, with a sweep of the podium spots.
Robert Liking of Flagstaff, AZ sprints into “The Backyard” for fifth place in 1:02:21. Aidan Reed of Boulder, CO was sixth in 1:02:22.
Michael McCann of Moscow, PA was 23rd in 1:06:18.
Molly Born of Chapel Hill had no idea at this point that she was about to win the USATF Half Marathon Championships. Born thought she was in fourth place.
Annie Rodenfels of Longmont, CO ran 1:10:12 in her debut at the half marathon distance. She was third.
Annamaria Kostarellis of Albuquerque, NM was fifth, with a PB of 1:10:57.
The Home Depot Backyard is the ultimate finish line venue. Annamaria Kostarellis of Albuquerque, NM finishing fifth.
Erika Kemp of Providence, RI left nearly three feet of snow in Rhode Island to place seventh in 1:11:20 in warm Atlanta.
Maggie Montoya of Lafayette, CO was tenth in 1:11:27.
Lexi Thompson of West Haven, UT was eighteenth in 1:13:23.
Kelsie Vicknair of Boston, MA was 28th in 1:17:21.
Kasandra Parker of Waverly, IA was fourth in 1:10:47.

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