Team USA Women’s Half Marathon team delivered a shining performance on Sunday, September 20th, in Copenhagen, Denmark, earning a silver team medal and several personal-best performances.

Sunday’s 13.1-mile race made history. Kenyan Agnes Ngetich crossed the line first, smashing the world record for a women-only half marathon with a 1:05:15.

Emma Grace Hurley, Weini Kelati, and Jess McClain ran together up front, finishing 5th, 6th, and 7th overall. Hurley and McClain both dropped personal bests—1:06:23 and 1:06:53, respectively. Hurley’s time now ranks third-fastest ever by an American. Kelati kept her streak alive with a 1:06:35, her fourth time under 1:07.

You wouldn't know it from the stellar performance of Team USA over the 13.1 miles on Sunday, but the journey to the roads in Copenhagen was not straightforward.

The Journey To Copenhagen

At the USATF Half Marathon Championships in March 2026, a pace car went off course in the final miles of the race, taking McClain, Hurley, and Ednah Kurgat with it. They lost two minutes and their shot at a top-3 finish for Copenhagen.

With the leaders off course, Molly Born, Carrie Ellwood, and Annie Rodenfels crossed the line in first, second and third at trials in Atlanta and earned a spot on the team. Born showed real sportsmanship, posting on Instagram that she didn’t feel like the true winner given what happened in the race.

After weeks of debate, World Athletics allowed Team USA to send its biggest-ever women’s half marathon squad to Copenhagen, making things right after the trials mix-up.

“Thanks to World Athletics, USA Track & Field will be permitted to enter seven women, rather than the standard four,” USA Track & Field said in a statement. “The team spots will be offered to the three athletes who were led off course—Jessica McClain, Emma Grace Hurley, and Ednah Kurgat—along with the top three official finishers from the championship race: Molly Born, Carrie Ellwood, and Annie Rodenfels. A final spot will go to an athlete based on world rankings as of May 5.”

Instead of letting the chaos and uncertainty of roster selections shake them, Team USA came together, using the adversity to build an even stronger team culture and fuel for their Copenhagen run.

Turning It Around

Much of running is the athlete versus the clock, but when you put on the Team USA kit, it’s a team sport. At World Championships, you’re racing for more than yourself—you’re racing for your country and your teammates.

“One of the special parts of competing for your country is that it becomes a team event, rather than just working for yourself. I love that feeling,” Hurley said via Instagram DM.

After the adversity at trials, the Team USA women chose to see the upside. They used the experience to become closer teammates, build trust, and push each other to a new level.

Hurley, Kurghat, and McClain were the three leaders who were directed off course at the trials back in March 2026. That moment reminded them how much they rely on each other and the power of real team connection, Kurghat shared.

“The camaraderie and energy of this women’s group have helped me turn that experience into motivation, and I’m heading into Copenhagen focused, confident, and ready to race together with my teammates,” Kurghat said via Instagram DM.

Rodenfels, who finished in the top three at trials after the leaders were misdirected, echoed her teammates’ focus on unity.

“The situation that occurred was unfortunate, but I think the outcome has resulted in a team that has felt more connected and invested in each other,” she said via Instagram DM. “The half champs really proved how competitive we can all be, allowing room for that while still supporting each other in the ways we can. My mindset is that I truly wanted both the team and myself to have the best day possible and represent our country well!” 

“The situation that occurred was unfortunate, but I think the outcome has resulted in a team that has felt more connected and invested in each other. The half champs really proved how competitive we can all be, allowing room for that while still supporting each other in the ways we can.”

Annie Rodenfels

Rogendels achieved her goal. She crossed the line in Copenhagen, placing 41st in the world, in just her second half marathon of her career.

The Take Home

The USA Women put on an exemplary show of sportsmanship and camaraderie that all athletes can take to heart. The life of an athlete, especially in competition, is full of uncertainties; things beyond our control can go wrong and impact performance. It can be easy to get caught up in what went wrong, but these moments also offer a chance to look at the other side of the picture, learn, and prepare for bigger and better things in the future.

Many athletes who compete in the road half marathon also excel at the marathon. Looking ahead to the next few years, we expect to see many of these athletes racing this fall at World Major Marathons, as well as the USA Olympic Team Marathon Trials in St. Louis in March 2028, followed by the 2028 LA Olympic Games. There’s lots to look forward to.