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.

High school

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.

NCAA

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.

Professional

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.

Marathon running

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.

YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
Representing the United States
20252025 World Athletics ChampionshipsTokyo, Japan8thMarathon2:29:20
2019NACAC Cross Country ChampionshipsPort of Spain, Trinidad3rd10 km36:40
Marathons
20252025 World Athletics ChampionshipsTokyo, Japan8thMarathon2:29:20
2025 Boston MarathonBoston, Massachusetts7thMarathon2:22:43
20242024 New York City MarathonNew York City, NY8thMarathon2:27:19
2024 United States Olympic Marathon TrialsOrlando, Florida4thMarathon2:25:46
2023Grandma's MarathonDuluth, Minnesota4thMarathon2:29:24
2022Mesa MarathonPhoenix, Arizona1stMarathon2:33:34
USA Championships
20252025 USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsEugene, Oregon5th10,000 m32:03.84
USA Half Marathon ChampionshipsAtlanta, Georgia4th21.1 km1:08:37
20242024 United States Olympic trials (track and field)Eugene, Oregon4th10,000 m32:04.57
USATF Faxon Law New Haven Road RaceNew Haven, Connecticut2nd20 km1:06:50
USATF The Great Cow Harbor 10 km RunNorthport, New York1st10 km31:40
2024 United States Olympic Marathon TrialsOrlando, Florida4thMarathon2:25:46
2019USATF National Cross Country ChampionshipsTallahassee, Florida16th10 km34:24
2018USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsDes Moines, Iowa11th10,000 m32:47.29
2017USATF Faxon Law New Haven Road RaceNew Haven, Connecticut7th20 km68:55
USATF Peachtree Road Race 10 kmAtlanta Georgia4th10 km33:16
USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsSacramento, California12th5000 m15:32.34
2016USA Olympic Trials & Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsEugene, OregonDNS5000 m
2015USA Club Cross Country ChampionshipsSan Francisco, California10th6 km20:14
USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsEugene, Oregon17th5000 m16:02.71
2014USA Outdoor Track and Field ChampionshipsSacramento, California9th5000 m15:48.31

External links