Running News Daily

Jessica McClain And Biya Simbassa Capture USATF Road Titles At Great Cow Harbor 10k

That’s what Jessica McClain shouted as she broke the tape at the Great Cow Harbor 10-K here this morning where she won her first-ever national title.  The 32 year-old from Phoenix, who finished fourth at the 2024 USA Olympic Team Trials Women’s Marathon last February, stopped the clock at 31:40, a new course record by 13 seconds.

She’ll leave this picturesque seaside town on Long Island with total race winnings of $10,500: $8,000 for first place and $2,500 for setting a new course record.  Her time was also a championships record, bettering Marla Runyan’s 2002 mark of 31:46 set in Boston.

“It was so fun,” an elated McClain told Race Results Weekly just after finishing.  “I was literally out here just to race and have a good time before New York (City Marathon), and the motivation now is just head-down training, staying in Phoenix the next six weeks.”

McClain was part of a strong lead pack in the first mile which included Natosha Rogers, Erika Kemp, Emma Grace Hurley, and Amanda Vestri.  Keira D’Amato, Annie Rodenfels, and Katie Izzo ran together about six seconds back.  The quintet ascended the steep James Street Hill in the second mile, then ran together towards the 5-K mark, unable to appreciate the breathtaking views of Northport Harbor to their left.  Rogers got the $500 5-K prime, but McClain held back.  She was thinking instead about the overall title.

“I knew some of the women would be motivated by the 5-K bonus,” McClain explained.  “So I was like, just tune-out and stay in the mix until then, and then just feel it out.  When I felt comfortable enough, make a move and make it definitive.”

Her legs full of strength from marathon training, McClain pulled away in the fourth mile. She ran the mostly downhill second half of the race in a snappy 15:42, much faster than the second-place Rogers (16:03).  Spurred on by the hundreds of spectators who lined both sides of the course, the Brooks-sponsored athlete sailed to the finish line on Main Street alone.  She was particularly pleased with her tactics today.

“I’ve been really bad about getting out and making half-assed moves,” McClain admitted with a chuckle.  “I was really trying to get to a point where I was antsy and just go.”

Despite suffering from a badly upset stomach in the final mile, Rogers was a clear second in 32:00.  Hurley, the overall leader in the USATF Running Circuit points race, took third in 32:05 and Kemp, who won here in 2021, got fourth in 32:10.  D’Amato, who will run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in three weeks, completed the top-5 in 32:13.

Her legs full of strength from marathon training, McClain pulled away in the fourth mile. She ran the mostly downhill second half of the race in a snappy 15:42, much faster than the second-place Rogers (16:03).  Spurred on by the hundreds of spectators who lined both sides of the course, the Brooks-sponsored athlete sailed to the finish line on Main Street alone.  She was particularly pleased with her tactics today.

“I’ve been really bad about getting out and making half-assed moves,” McClain admitted with a chuckle.  “I was really trying to get to a point where I was antsy and just go.”

Despite suffering from a badly upset stomach in the final mile, Rogers was a clear second in 32:00.  Hurley, the overall leader in the USATF Running Circuit points race, took third in 32:05 and Kemp, who won here in 2021, got fourth in 32:10.  D’Amato, who will run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in three weeks, completed the top-5 in 32:13.