Jessica McClain

Marathon: 2:20:49 (2026) |

Jessica McClain (née Tonn born February 15, 1992) is an American middle-distance and long-distance runner. As a Stanford Cardinal, Jess was a seven-time NCAA Division I All-American cross country and Track and field runner.

Tonn qualified for four years for Foot Locker Cross Country Championships for Xavier College Preparatory (Arizona). Jessica won 14 individual state titles, two in cross country and 12 in Track and field in Arizona Interscholastic Association.

Tonn graduated BA and MA from Stanford. Tonn won 2015 Pac-12 Conference 10,000 meters in 34:00. As a Stanford Cardinal, Jessica Tonn was a seven-time NCAA Division I All-American.

Jessica Tonn signed with Brooks in November 2015. That contract ended in 2018 and she began competing unattached.

Jessica ran a 1500m in 4:20.89 at Payton Jordan Invitational in Stanford (USA) 01.05.2016. Jessica ran a 5000m in 15:30.34 at Hoka One One held at Occidental College in Los Angeles (USA) 20.05.2016. Jessica ran a 1500m in 4:16 in Seattle at Brooks PR meet on June 18, 2016.

Jessica placed second in 15:38.46 for 5000 meters on April 14, 2017, at Mt SAC Relays.

Jessica won a 10,000m in 31:54.83 at Payton Jordan Invitational in Stanford (USA) 03.05.2018.

In January 2019, Tonn left Seattle and Beast Track Club to coach Arizona State Sun Devils student-athletes. In November 2019, she placed second at the 2019 Abbott Dash to the Finish Line 5K / USATF 5K Championships in New York, finishing in 15:44, a mere second behind winner Shannon Rowbury.

In March 2024, she announced that she had signed a new contract with Brooks.

In September 2024, she won the USATF women's 10K championship at the Great Cow Harbor race in Northport, N.Y. with a course-record time of 31:40.

On June 17, 2023, McClain earned a qualifying position for the 2024 United States Olympic trials by running 2:29:25 at Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota.

On February 3, 2024, McClain placed fourth in the Olympic Marathon Trials held in Orlando, Florida, with a 2:25:46, a personal best by nearly four minutes. She was the alternate for the Paris Olympics.

On April 21, 2025, McClain finished as the 1st American and 7th overall at the 2025 Boston Marathon, running a 2:22:43.

On March 1, 2026, McClain was leading the U.S. Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta until she followed an errant pace vehicle off course.

On April 20, 2026, McClain was the first United States finisher at the 2026 Boston Marathon, 5th overall, with a time of 2:20:49 setting a new American women's course record.

• Stanford University Jessica Tonn profile Archived September 15, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
• Jessica McClain at World Athletics
• Jessica McClain on X
• Jessica Tonn – Stanford University at TFRRS
• Jessica Tonn – Xavier College Prep at TFRRS
• Stanford Jessica Tonn v NCAA lawsuit