iPod-Wearing Marathoner Wins Appeal After Being DQ’d

She had no expectation of finishing in the top 5.

Kelly McClure of Iron Mountain, Michigan will receive her $500 after all. Last Sunday, she finished fifth at the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon and was disqualified for wearing an iPod. Race organizers had pointed to a USATF rule that forbids prize money being awarded to runners who wear iPods or any other electronic devices.

However, that rule was repealed in 2009.

The USATF now says it is up to individual race organizers to decide policy on wearing these devices.

Race director Sean Ryan said he did not agree with the old USATF rule and said that it punishes above-average runners who end up having a really good day.

“She had no anticipation of finishing even in the top 10,” he said of McClure. “Last year the top 10 female marathon runners here in Green Bay all finished under three hours, so she had every right to expect to not even finish in the overall standings.”

McClure’s finishing time was 3:05:44.

For More: Green Bay Press Gazette